Chris Hermann brings many years of leadership experience in business, community and ministry to the boardroom table. He strives for excellence, creativity and collaboration in leadership, organizational management and administration while promoting continuous learning and development growth for himself, leadership teams and organizations.

No stranger to personal crisis and spiritual brokenness, Chris’s search for meaning, wholeness and healing through a real relationship with God began at age seven. That search has continued through to the present day with significant personal God encounters that have developed into a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ his Saviour, Friend and Healer.

“I’ve never regretted following God. I have however regretted running away from Him. I’m still baffled by how many times I’ve done that. What’s so amazing is that He has chased me down because of His outrageous love for me. Not just once or twice! He’s never given up on me. I know Jesus Christ as the God of the second, third and fourth chance. He has shown me that His faithfulness and loving kindness are far beyond even the best the world has to offer. I love His love for the broken, marginalized and oppressed. It’s because of this that my heart beats in concert with His for the mission of Hope Awaits Ministries in our community.”

“Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them … and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.” Isaiah 58:7p&10p NLT*

*Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

I grew up knowing the pain of a parent with a substance abuse problem, but God interrupted our family’s life and we charted a different path with Jesus. Along my journey with Jesus I met my beautiful wife, Sjana, while attending World Impact Bible Institute in St. Catharines Ontario. I was influenced heavily by a 6-week cultural exchange with Impacting Asia Bible Institute close to that time and truly value the global church and making disciples.

In 2002 I decided to go for a career in hospitality and we moved to North Bay where I finished the Culinary Management and Food Nutrition Management programs at Canadore College. At the same time, we fell in love with the people and lifestyle that goes with living in the Near North. We have five children, all of whom have been raised in such a beautiful area.

In 2013 we felt God calling us into a leadership role with the church, and I switched careers to become the Pastor of Eau Claire EMC, not far from Mattawa. I am passionate about Jesus, and sharing the hope found within the story and text of Scripture. I am especially fond of helping others see the benefit of reading the Bible in context, as opposed to picking out individual verses to base one’s life on. I prefer a holistic approach to life, where Jesus is to be included in every part of life by the indwelling Holy Spirit as opposed to simply going to church on Sundays.

One of my favorite passages that shows my passion in life comes from 2 Timothy 2:1,2 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (Though I would strongly encourage reading all of 2 Timothy to see a better picture of who I am, and who I want to be.)