
While Andrew loves to innovate and work hard, the most important thing in his life, besides Jesus, is his family. He has been married to Genevieve for 19 years. They live in St. Catharines, ON with their three children, Olivia (16), Alexander (15), and Hudson (12).
Andrew is a Pastor/Entrepreneur and has initiated a number of his own businesses. Notably, he founded Church Bookkeeping, which is the largest outsourcing firm servicing churches and not-for-profit organizations in Canada. He also started a construction business, landscaping business, software company, day camp, and most recently and proudly, a jewellery business with his daughter. Andrew is currently the CFO at Kraun Electric. Previous to this, Andrew joined the staff of Bethany Community Church (St, Catharines, ON) in the role of Executive Pastor. Since 1999, Andrew has been pastoring in some capacity, ranging from a Youth Pastor, Family Pastor, and Community Pastor. His pastoral passion is to see neighbourhoods transformed by Jesus. Andrew also served as Director of Operations for the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada (EMCC) from 2008-2012.
If he isn’t working, then he is either eating ice cream, donuts or candy, fishing for sharks, or pranking someone!
Camp Mishewah has always been a cherished part of my life, holding a special place in my heart since childhood. As a young camper, I eagerly counted down the days until I could attend, and once I became a camper, it was the highlight of my summers. That week at camp was a magical time I would look forward to all year long. The friendships I built and the experiences I had truly shaped me.
When I was old enough, I jumped at the chance to be a counselor, forming lifelong bonds with people who became like family. Those friendships sustained me through high school, and even though we were spread out across Ontario, we stayed connected through events like Snow Camp at Stayner and youth sports tournaments. Growing up in the Missionary Church in Vineland, many of my best memories are tied to both church and camp.
After some time out west, I eventually returned to Ontario and, with great joy, brought my own children to Camp Mishewah. Just as I did, they have fallen in love with camp, and now they’re the ones who spend the year planning for their next visit. Watching them create their own memories at the same place that shaped my life has been one of the greatest joys of parenthood.
Professionally, I’ve spent over 24 years in the insurance industry and currently serve as Principal Broker, and Chief Operations Officer at Strong Roots Insurance Brokers. I’m passionate about helping clients understand their insurance and ensuring they feel well-supported. I’ve also made a point of mentoring and training staff along the way, reflecting my commitment to growth—both mine and theirs. I hold FCIP, CAIB, and RIBO designations, which have been instrumental in my professional journey.
In addition to my work at Strong Roots, I currently serve as the Central West Director and President-Elect for the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario (IBAO). In this role, I’ve developed skills in strategic thinking, financial literacy, governance, and risk management. Serving on this board allows me to advocate for insurance brokers and their clients while staying engaged in the evolving landscape of the industry.
It’s this combination of professional experience and my deep personal connection to Camp Mishewah that drives my desire to contribute to the camp’s future as part of the ECM. I look forward to the opportunity to help guide and support a place that has meant so much to me and my family.
Cal is a native of Stouffville, ON. He grew up as a Missionary Kid with his parents in Nigeria for 8 years with the United Missionary Church (Now EMCC). He and his wife Wanda have two married children and three awesome grandchildren who all live in Stouffville. Together they enjoy serving in their church (EastRidge EMC), traveling, getting together with friends, and spending time at Camp Mishewah enjoying all that God has created. Cal worked for 30+ years in the computer software industry and the final 16 years as a software project manager. Cal currently serves on the EMCC National Team as the EMCC Properties Manager helping provide guidance to EMCC churches and camps related to property management and real estate requests. Cal has served multiple terms on the ECM board in the past and looks forward to representing the EMCC on the board.
Hello! My name is Cheri! I attend Wilmot Centre Church with my husband and 2 awesome kids. Camp Mishewah has been one of my absolute favourite places since I was a kid. Every year starting at 5 years old, I would attend family camp and as I grew older I enjoyed kids and youth camps. I never missed a year! I am so grateful my parents valued the importance of experiencing camp! In my teenage years, I absolutely loved working at camp as a counsellor for both kids and youth camps. What makes my heart so happy is that as a family, we now prioritize attending camp every year. We have recruited all our friends to also make it an annual tradition. Our kids can confidently say it is a top favourite place for them as well. Camp is about the people, relationships, nature, beauty, and experiencing God’s presence daily. My kids are looking forward to working at camp when they are older, but until then, will continue to enjoy family and youth camps every summer.
I work as an Educational Assistant with the Waterloo Region District School Board which keeps me very busy all day. I enjoy volunteering at my church in a variety of areas and of course being a mom/chauffeur keeps me hopping!
Andrew has been a pastor in the EMCC for over 20 years, and has been coming to both Stayner and Mishewah for much longer than that. Growing up he worked at Stayner on maintenance, and came up to Mishewah with his church, Wilmot Centre. Over the years he has counselled, taught, and participated in many different events and weeks at both Stayner and Mishewah whether that is Sr. Teen, or EMCC events at Stayner. As a pastor at Bethany Community Church, he is a part of running Bethany Week at Mishewah every year.
Andrew has 3 kids – Hudson, Asher, and Eden, and his wife Krista is a midwife who also was a counsellor and a cook at Mishewah growing up. He has a background in governance and enjoys cooking and soccer.
Camp has been one of my favourite places ever since I was little! As a kid, Mishewah became my home away from home when I would spend most of July there with my family. As I got older I volunteered as a camp counsellor, worked as a lifeguard, was a member of the program staff team, and the past two summers I directed Sr. Teen with my husband Jonathon. Jonathon and I actually met as campers when we were young, and got engaged at Mishewah! So camp is pretty special to both of us. Together we can look back at our camp experience and see how our lives have been shaped by the close friendships we developed and experiences/opportunities we had there. To me, Mishewah has always been a space where people could come as they are, learn more about Jesus, and form close relationships with others. I would love to see it continue to be that special place in the many years to come and am excited to help out in any capacity I am able. Jonathon and I live in Kitchener with our daughter, Finley, who is already a big fan of camp! I work for the WRDSB as an Early Childhood Educator in a Kindergarten classroom that I love! We attend Elevation in Waterloo where we have enjoyed volunteering and getting to know the Sr. Youth group. I also love hiking with my dog, golfing, camping, reading, and spending time at my parent’s farm and with my siblings.
I live on a dairy farm near Plattsville with my wife Sandra. We have four daughters who are now all married and starting to raise families. Camping has always been part of our summers and we have spent many years camping at Mishewah, Stayner and several provincial and state parks. Sandra and our girls have been involved in various aspects of the ECM camps and we have a deep commitment to the ministry of ECM and its vision that everyone who comes in contact with our camps would be impacted by the life-changing love of Jesus.
We are members of Bethel EMCC in New Dundee and I have been involved in various aspects of ministry and leadership over the years, including Chair of the Board, member of Finance Committees, leading Care Groups and I am presently an Elder.
Following graduation from university in 1987, I started on a 25-year career with Farm Credit Canada as a Relationship Manger – analyzing finances, forecasting and lending money to farm families and Agribusinesses to help them grow and accomplish their dreams. During that time, we also acquired and grew the family dairy farm which we operate today.
In 2012 I was elected to the Board of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, a board which I chaired for five years. I have been on a number of other boards over the years and have strong interest in good governance.
The ECM camps have a rich and deep history, and I am excited to be involved in understanding the needs of the future and creating a strategy that will see these camps flourish for years come.
I live in St. Catharines and work as a Registered Nurse at the Hamilton General Hospital in the Emergency Department. I enjoy the work and find it challenging and humbling. It also happens to be where I met my husband Paul who is also a nurse. We both come from close families and have strong relationships with our parents and siblings. We attend Bethany Community Church in St. Catharines. I have attended Camp Mishewah my whole life, spending at least a week of every summer at family camp. I participated in several kid’s camp weeks as a camper, and then graduated to a camp counsellor. As a late teen I spent three summers as a lifeguard on seasonal staff. Once I completed my post secondary education, I also served as a camp nurse for some of the kid’s camp weeks. I have participated in all but one of the Mishewah Mission’s trips since they’ve been running. Camp Mishewah has helped shape who I am and has played a huge role in both challenging and establishing my faith. I feel as though Mishewah has invested in me, so being involved in the camp’s future is a way that I can give back. I am passionate about seeing the ECM camps thrive and continue to impact children, families and individuals. Both Stayner and Mishewah are special places, and I hope and pray future generations can enjoy these camps because we took the effort, time, innovation, finances and wisdom to invest in them now.
Lauren grew up in Cambridge, Ontario, and her path toward ministry was sparked early in high school by the encouragement of her youth pastor. She began working as a camp counsellor at Camp K in Waterloo, Ontario, eventually becoming the Leader-In-Training Coordinator, where she reimagined the program to equip teens with leadership and life skills in a camp environment. Her first visit to Camp Mishewah was in 2017, where she led chapel services for two Kids’ Camps and organized programming for Family Camp.
After earning her B.A. in Business and Legal Studies from the University of Waterloo, Lauren pursued a diploma in Media Communications from Cambrian College, equipping her with the skills to further her work in ministry and nonprofit communication. She has since served on staff at two churches, taking on Family Ministry and Outreach roles. Most recently, she co-founded Church Helper, an organization focused on helping churches and nonprofits communicate their message clearly and make purposeful decisions. Today, Lauren works with churches and organizations across various denominations and causes to bridge the gap between business practices and nonprofit impact.
Lauren gets most excited when she gets to help create systems that allow organizations to operate smoothly while focusing on their strengths. Whether she’s building websites, managing social media, building database workflows, or coaching leaders on how to tell their unique stories, she’s dedicated to making ministries and nonprofits both impactful and sustainable.
She lives in New Dundee with her husband, Mike, and their daughters, Waverley (6) and Renleigh (3).
The Balzers know first-hand the impact of Christian camp and believe strongly that camp changes lives. Jeanette attended Stayner and Mishewah growing up, and later worked at Mish in various roles throughout her teen years. Steve attended Camp Kakeka as a child and was also a counsellor at Mishewah for a summer. Steve & Jeanette met while attending Emmanuel Bible College and have worked together in children’s ministry for over 40 years. They directed Trail of the Pines at Stayner Camp for 12 years and began directing kids camps at Mishewah in 2006. In 2018, they stepped into their current role as Managing Directors. Camp has played a significant part in the lives of the entire Balzer family: Steve & Jeanette have four adult sons and two daughters-in-law who love camp, and they are Gran and Pops to two granddaughters, who are learning to love camp too! Steve & Jeanette love to share about camp: if you are interested in having them come and visit/speak at your church, youth group, or other event, please visit our contact page and get in touch.
"*" indicates required fields