Good Courage aims to inspire with honest testimonies from people who have had the courage to follow their hearts, to hope against hope, and to faithfully work towards a better world. In these pages, find comfort with examples of practical and courageous hope in the midst of despair, and accept the challenge to deepen your theological understanding of hope, resurrection, and new life.

Alydia Smith is a worship leader, educator, caregiver, mother, and Jesus-follower who works at the General Council Office of The United Church of Canada, supporting worship and faith formation ministries. She is a tuba player who holds a Bachelor in Music from Western University, a Master of Divinity from the Atlantic School of Theology, and a Doctorate in Worship from Drew University, under the mentorship of Donald Hilliard and Leonard Sweet. Alydia loves learning and crafting and is always looking for new opportunities to grow and create.

 

 

Alydia Smith's profile page

ChrisAnn Alvarez is a fledgling wife of three years and a mother of two. She is part of the Refugee Team of The United Church of Canada and endeavours to walk alongside sponsors as they undertake the challenging work of resettling refugees. A former missionary who worked with youth and young adults, she now finds her mission in her own home, where she tries to find small moments of peace and grace within the mounds of laundry and scattered toy cars.

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Cláudio Carvalhaes is originally from Brazil. Ordained with the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil, he is now a pastor of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He is currently Professor of Worship at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. His personal website is claudiocarvalhaes.com.

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Jen Boyes-Garbin has worn many hats: Regional Minister for Canada (Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)), church planter, the mother of two grown children, and a life-long student. She has a deep love for all people and their capacity to transform the world. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Emmanuel College, focusing on exploring the faith practice of Canadian Christian emerging adults who live their faith outside the institutional church. Jen designs and leads workshops and open space forums around re-imaging the 21st-century church, discovering purpose, innovations in ministry, and transforming congregational culture. She has written a number of meditations and alternative worship services highlighting anti-racism/pro-reconciliation, mindfulness, justice, and living a Love-centred life. Jen calls Windsor, Ontario, home and spends free moments growing green edible things. She also enjoys painting, singing, and playing mandolin.

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Rev. Alexa Gilmour is a United Church minister, community activist, and National Director of Stone Soup Network, a charitable program that helps meet basic immediate needs while developing a community’s capacity for grassroots solutions to injustice and sustainability issues. Her ministry, writing, and public speaking share a common theme of building just, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive communities. Her renewal is found in hiking the wild places accompanied by Spirit.

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Amy Panton is a PhD candidate at Emmanuel College in Toronto. She is a Mad theologian who has become involved in practical theological research, as she wants to contribute to change. She is an out-survivor of the psychiatric system and is exploring the intersections between mental distress and spirituality in her dissertation work on self-injury. Amy is also the co-editor of the Canadian Journal of Theology, Mental Health and Disability, the co-host of the Mad and Crip Theology Podcast, and the founder of the Mad and Crip Theology Press, which she launched in December 2021.

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Rev. Jim Tenford is a minister serving Sunset United Church in Regina, Saskatchewan. In his church life, he loves everything to do with preaching, from the research to the delivery of the final message. In his home life, he is usually surrounded by sawdust in his wood shop where he builds furniture, or surrounded by his family of cats and wife Jennifer.

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Nora Vedress was born and raised in Ontario. She attended Western University and obtained a Master of Divinity from Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto. She was ordained by Hamilton Conference in 2001 and settled in Saskatchewan. Nora has a deep love for Pastoral Ministry and is committed to grief and trauma work, advocating for justice, working towards reconciliation, and healing our hearts, spirits, and communities through the stories we have to share. Nora currently serves Calvary United Church in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband and two children.

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