A Short Biography of our Minister
Ian Forest-Jones

Let us begin at the beginning: Ian was born on the 'wrong side of the tracks' -- quite literally -- of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (not too far away from Toronto, but don't hold that against him). In such an environment, Ian felt a sense of hopelessness quite early, called out to the God of the universe, and was blessed with His peace. However, this faith did not result in a commitment of lifestyle until his senior years of high school. At this same time, Ian sensed a call to mission and church leadership.

Ian graduated Queen's University at Kingston with a BA in Psychology, although it might as well have been in Philosophy -- a course of study chosen specifically as preparation for mission and ministry.

After serving one year part-time with a Korean congregation, Ian was providentially granted the opportunity to come to Australia, in 1994, to take up a Youth Pastor position. Ian met his wife, Marcia, an Occupational Therapist specialising in brain injury rehabilitation. They were married in Canberra in 1996, and then chose to travel to Canada together in 1998.

Returning to his hometown of Hamilton, Ian spent a year working as a Regional Youth Ministry Consultant, before he and Marcia decided to move to Ottawa, Canada's capital. In Ottawa, Ian began ministry as a Youth Pastor, worked with the local Children's Hospital as a Youth Mental Health Worker, became the Co-ordinator for the region's Youth Ministerial Association, and completed a MA in Mission Studies (combining Theology and Social Sciences).

With the birth of their first child, Ian and Marcia decided to settle permanently in Australia. They arrived in 2004 and are quite happy to be finally "settling" in Australia and, particularly, in the Hurstville area.