.....growing in grace
for a lifetime of service.
(320) 679-5365 quambabaptistoffice@gmail.com
Pastor Ivan
I was born into a loving family in Nova Scotia, Canada, and enjoyed the benefits that come through living with a father, mother, and five siblings who cared about each other. Although I attended church from a young age, I was given to sinful desires which showed later on in many ways including my great thirst for alcohol.
Following high school, I completed an engineering degree and worked as an industrial engineer with the Royal Canadian Navy; the fishing industry; and potash mining. At the age of twenty-six, I was confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by a traveling evangelist. Through Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 10:9-10, God showed me that I was a sinner who was deserving of His just judgement. He opened my eyes to see that I needed to repent (turn away from a life of sin) and put my trust in Jesus Christ, God incarnate, who suffered; died on the cross; and rose from the dead to pay for my sins! After receiving Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I realized that life would never be the same. For instance, by the Holy Spirit, I was able to put off drinking and put on an increasing desire for God’s Word!
About two years later, God called me to Bethel Seminary (St. Paul, MN) to complete a Masters of Divinity degree. There I met my wife, Kate, with whom I have lived and served God for over thirty years. In 2009, God gave me the opportunity to complete a Doctor of Ministry degree at Covenant Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO), and in 2014 I received the certification of Biblical Counselor through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (USA). At present, my goals are to continue to serve the saints at QBC and to glorify God and enjoy Him forever!