OUR TEAM
Meet our team of dedicated staff who help our street friends
MEET OUR TEAM
Gerry Potter
Executive Director
Gerry’s extensive experience in bi-vocational ministry spans over four decades. He has provided leadership within established churches, new church plants and non-profits across Canada, the US, Western Europe and Afghanistan. His service on short-term missions in Indonesia, Guatemala, Ukraine, and Poland, along with his 35 years in the Canadian Armed Forces and over ten years as a consultant, showcases his diverse and robust skill set.
“My faith in Jesus is simple: I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and I take Him at His Word. Early in my journey as a follower of Jesus, three intertwined values began driving my thinking, doing, and aspirations. Two come from Mark 12:30-31, and the third comes from Matthew 28:19-20. In short:
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Love the Lord,
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Love others,
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Serve the mission.”
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“I am grateful to have the privilege of serving the OIM mission as a member of the OIM team. We are called to come alongside and support people in Ottawa’s Innercity who are experiencing poverty and homelessness by demonstrating the message of Christ in action and word. Together, we bring the hope of the gospel to those whom Jesus loves and gave Himself for.”
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Brian Griffin
Business Manager
Brian has a BA from Memorial University in Political Science, History and Economics. He has spent over 25 years as a Commercial Banker with 3 organizations across Canada. From 2013 to 2020 he worked as an independent consultant in the Ottawa area, helping clients meet their organizational, governance and financial goals.
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Volunteering has always been a part of Brian's life and he considers giving back to the community to be of the utmost importance professionally as well as spiritually. He has volunteered with Junior Achievement, Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Rotary Club as well as numerous church organizations.
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Joining OIM is providing Brian a way to serve the most deserving of our community. He is reminded constantly that no matter how good or bad things are, he remembers to be grateful and thankful to God and trust that what he has provided is enough.
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Jordan Levesque
Youth Coordinator
Jordan joined OIM in the role of Youth Outreach Coordinator in August 2021.
He studied Youth & Family Ministries at Emmanuel Bible College, graduating in 2016. He then worked as a youth pastor for a few years in Kitchener, Ontario, before moving to the Ottawa Valley to be closer to family.
Apart from working with youth, Jordan is also a passionate musician, enjoys playing sports, weightlifting, and spending time with his wife and dogs.
Elizabeth Sutherland-Beaven
IVOS (Veteran Program) Associate
After 15 years of administrative work at various government and private industries, Elizabeth (Beth) took 10 years off to concentrate on her family before returning to the workforce as an Adult Crossing Guard at a local school, then back into administration at a local church before trying the retail industry. Beth has never stopped volunteering at local charities and events since coming to Ottawa.
She obtained her Ministerial Diploma in 2014 at Ottawa School of the Bible.
Beth then took the plunge and joined OIM, first as Administrative Assistant. She progressed to Administrator in 2021 and mid-year 2022 joined the IVOS program to help deliver unique outreach and support to Ottawa's at-risk veterans.
Beth is married and has two grown sons, who often join her in various volunteering events.
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Peter Stuart
Veterans Housing Coordinator
Peter is a native of Quebec. After Basic Training in the Naval Reserve, Peter studied in English and French in Ontario and Quebec, eventually seeing all ten Canadian Provinces, and the Yukon.
Peter remained engaged as a volunteer and a worker for his faith community and in such fields as manual labour, customer service, PSW, travel and tourism (Tour Guide at Vimy Ridge, and the Citadel in Quebec City). Subsequent to a spiritual awakening resulting from recovery from a Concurrent Disorder, Peter felt called to minister to persons who were struggling with these conditions. He became involved in advocacy work with people with Concurrent Disorders, peer to peer advocacy in the Recovery Community, as well as a PSW with seniors.
Peter volunteered for the Mission in Afghanistan at CFB Valcartier to support spouses of CAF personnel deployed overseas. This motivated Peter, at 50, to train in Social Work at Niagara College and Trent University. Peter looks forward to the challenges of addressing issues facing Veterans at OIM in a Spirit of Gospel Truth.
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Ellen Niekoop
Administrator
After years employed in the private sector functioning in various roles as Relationship Manager, Quality Assurance Analyst and Network Support Engineer, Ellen followed her passion, and decided to make a switch to community work to be able to help those struggling.
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She began volunteering at OIM in 2020 in various outreach activities, such as door- and street outreach work. She has completed her chaplaincy training to be better equipped to further connect, support, and share the love of Christ with the vulnerable served by OIM. Whatever her roles, Ellen has always looked for opportunities to serve clients more effectively and more efficiently.
With a background in Business, IT and Community Work, she accepted the role of Administrator within OIM in mid-2022. She is excited by the opportunity to work alongside her brothers and sisters, to contribute to OIM's vision, and serve and empower our street friends in downtown Ottawa.
Andrew Murphy
Strategic Communications & PR Manager
Andrew joined OIM in February 2024. At his local church, he leads an outreach ministry that serves those facing poverty and homelessness, which is where he found his passion and desire to help the vulnerable population.
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Andrew received his B.A. in Communications from the University of Ottawa and his M.A. in Strategic Communications from Liberty University.
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Coming from a diverse background in non-profit, church, retail, and construction communications and social media management, Andrew is excited to bring his passion for communications and passion for serving those facing poverty and homelessness to OIM.
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When Andrew is not working, he serves at his church's outreach ministry, works on his research project, and freelances as a social media coordinator. He also enjoys spending time with friends, building LEGO, playing board games and watching movies.
Jelica Zdero
Senior Research & Grants Coordinator
After volunteering with OIM in 2007/2008, Jelica responded to God’s call to join the team in October 2008. She is honoured to be working alongside the caring staff and volunteers of OIM who joyfully give of themselves to work alongside our street community.
Jelica brings with her a skill-set that includes university teaching, research, and writing as well as a variety of volunteer experiences in her church and community.
Sarah Pearce
Volunteer & Program Coordinator
Sarah initially joined OIM as the Volunteer Coordinator in 2020. After a short time in that role she moved to serve as a Street Outreach volunteer.
In the fall of 2022 Sarah rejoined the staff team as the Resource Coordinator. She is excited to support both the staff and volunteers by equipping them with the resources they need to effectively meet the needs of those they aim to serve in Jesus' name.
Sarah has served in many roles in her church, local summer camp, and community. Both she and her husband serve weekly as Street Outreach volunteers and have three grown children.
Marissa Barstead
Youth Assistant
Marissa has a Bachelor of Science from Liberty University in Psychology: Crisis Counseling. She also studied Ministry Leadership at Highlands College with a focus on outreach and missions. While studying at Highlands College, she volunteered to work with the homeless and at-risk youth in lower-income areas of downtown Birmingham, Alabama. She also volunteered with the correctional ministries at the Church of Highlands, where she would help hold a church service every Sunday at Julia Tutwiler Women’s Prison. Marissa then completed an internship with an anti-human trafficking organization called Trafficking Hope. After her internship ended, she moved back to her home city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she continued volunteering with another anti-human trafficking organization called Living in Liberty.
Marissa moved to Ottawa after getting married 3 years ago and began volunteering with the door and street outreach, which then led to Marissa joining the staff team as the youth program assistant while also working as a residential support worker for survivors of human trafficking.
Stephen Prendergast
Community Engagement Support
Stephen is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic who graduated from the Teen Challenge program in 2008. He has travelled the country throwing "seeds of hope" by sharing his testimony hundreds of times in churches, prisons, and schools across Canada.
Stephen graduated from Emmanuel Bible College with a BRE – Professional Studies in Counselling and Youth & Family Studies and has earned a Professional Studies Certificate in Addictions Counselling. Most recently, he acquired an Advanced TESOL Certificate in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and a TESOL Specialization Certificate in Teaching Business English
In 2018 Stephen moved with his wife Rachael and sons Cullen & Caden to the Ottawa Valley to get the newest Teen Challenge Centre up and running where he is the former Development Officer & Director of the Eastern Ontario Men's Centre. Stephen then joined The Grind Pembroke in the role of Field Operations & Client Support until late 2023. Stephen was excited about joining OIM and being able to utilize a skill set he has honed over 16 years.
Richard MacCallum
Building Manager
Richard is originally from Toronto, Ontario. Growing up, he spent most of his summers at his grandparent's lodge. His Grandfather inspired him to serve in the Royal Canadian Navy, where he served for 18 years. He is also a member of St. Barnabas Anglican Church, where he faithfully serves as an usher and greeter. Richard has a special place in his heart for Veterans, which is evident in his service for OIM's Innercity Veterans Outreach and Support (IVOS). Every week, he walks the streets of downtown Ottawa looking for homeless Veterans. In particular, he enjoys helping them with any problems they might have. He also enjoys OIM's team spirit.
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Phoebe Willard
Resource Coordinator
Phoebe has a passion to see Jesus Christ known and exalted amongst all the nations of world. She sees her role at OIM as an opportunity to extend to the needy the practical love that flows from the gospel, and to equip and encourage other Christians in Ottawa as they seek to do the same.
Phoebe's work and ministry experience includes being the manager of a Christian thrift store, office administrator for a Bible camp, a support worker in the hospital, as well as involvement in several foreign missions projects. Phoebe loves people, and appreciates every opportunity to connect with others. She has lived in the Ottawa area for over a decade.
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Board of Directors
Chair
Taffy Nahas
Legal Counsel, City of Ottawa
​Secretary
Doug Cooper
Lieutenant-Commander (ret'd)
Treasurer
Kari Yli-Renko
Area Manager, Leader Impact Ministries (A Division of Power to Change)
Director
Walter Semianiw
Lieutenant-General (ret'd)
Director
Karen Fishwick
VP of Admin & Finance, Evangelical Fellowship of Canada