Leadership

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President's Message

Healthy leadership has several layers. Vanguard College is lead by the President, who is accountable to the Board of Directors. That Board is accountable to the conference of the Alberta and Northwest Territories District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada who represent the churches of our District. In turn our District is accountable to the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. We practice leadership through service and the safety of submission to others. Our Board of Directors is a collection of people who feel a passion for Vanguard College and come from a variety of occupational backgrounds. The Board is ultimately responsible for the ministry of this College. I want to thank them for serving and leading with excellence!

Board of Directors

Rev. Gary Taitinger

Board of Directors, Chairman (Ex-Officio)
Alberta & NWT PAOC District Superintendent

Gary is married to Carrie, they have three married children and eight grandchildren. Gary's personal mission statement is to "intercept the trend of decreasing Christian influence in Canada."  His ministry gifting specializes in aligning team members around big goals and cheating plateaus through God prompted vision.

Rev. Mark Macknight

Board of Directors, Acting President

Mark brings over 30 years of pastoral experience to His role as director where he finds it a great privilege to pastor future pastors/leaders. Married to his best friend Pam, they have two great children, Rachel and James, both involved in ministry.  Mark’s desire and passion is to encounter the God of unlimited resources who has big plans for His Church and the next generation of leaders. 

Mr. Dwight Kunn

Board of Directors, Treasurer

Vanguard College serves a critical need in training and equipping leaders for churches, missions, and the marketplace. It has been personally fulfilling watching God bless the ministry and I have enjoyed assisting in the area of finance.  It is great to be a small part of a dynamic organization moving forward with the huge task ahead.

Rev. Murray Coughlin

Board of Directors, Secretary

I believe the future of any denomination, including the PAOC, is largely dependent on the kind of students that graduate from Vanguard and become the pastors of our churches for the next 40 years.  I serve as a Board Member so that I can have some input into making sure that we do the best job we can in helping prepare our future pastors and leaders so that our churches will be the healthiest that they can be.

Terry Jones

Board of Directors, Lay Member

Terry Jones is the President and owner of Dunhill Group of Companies. He has been a licensed real estate agent, broker and appraiser for over 30 years. His area of expertise is in land development and commercial investment real estate.  Terry is serving on the board of directors and board of finance of Vanguard College.

Rev. Dallas Bidell

Board of Directors, D.L.T. Pastoral Member

I am deeply inspired by the opportunity to be part of shaping an environment where young spiritual leaders can thrive and develop into all that God created them to be.

Don Bunting

Board of Directors, Lay Member

My name is Don Bunting and I was raised in a preachers’ home and accepted Christ at age 11. My wife Grace and I were married in 1967. God blessed us with four sons, Brooks, Blake, Brad and Damon and we now have a family of 14. We lost Brooks in 1992. We started our business Action Electrical In 1973. The Park Church has been our home church since 1974.I am privileged to have served on various Vanguard Boards since the early 90’s. I have enjoyed serving under such great leadership and with such dedicated individuals. Romans 8:28 has always been a source of strength.

Rev. Corey Randell

Board of Directors, Assistant Superintendant (Ex-Officio)

Bio to come.

Rev. David Wells

Board of Directors, General Superintendent (Ex-Officio)

Dave Wells has served as general superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) since May 2008. 

Dave completed his undergraduate studies in theology at Vanguard College in Edmonton, Alberta, and has a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry from Briercrest Seminary, Saskatchewan. In May 2013, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by McMaster Divinity College. In April 2014, he was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Briercrest College and Seminary.

Dr. Efa Etoroma

Board of Directors, Lay Member

Nigerian born, Efa moved to Canada in 1978 and has lived in Edmonton since 1992. Efa and his wife Faridat are the proud parents of three adult children: Efa Jr., a California-based jazz musician; Daniel, a pastor at The Church At South Edmonton; and Shireen, an undergraduate student. Efa has served as a lay member of the General Executive of the PAOC and on a number of local boards. Efa and Faridat are members of Mill Woods Pentecostal Assembly. Efa has served on the board of Vanguard College since 2006.

Rev. Mark Williams

Board of Directors, Pastoral Member

I serve on the Vanguard board to help create a place where individuals with a desire and calling to become strong spiritual leaders can be trained, equipped, and empowered to bring spiritual transformation into our churches and communities.

Jeff Kiers

Board of Directors, Lay Member

I serve on Vanguard’s Board because I believe that God has a big plan for the future of the church in Canada and around the world. I also believe that young leaders will play a major role in that. Vanguard’s students will not only shape the future, but are a part of the prevailing church today. I want to do whatever I can to help make that happen.