Mission Speakers / Deputation

The Raw Carrot is a social franchise that believes that every person who WANTS to work should have the opportunity for a Hand Up (instead of just a handout) in life! The Raw Carrot partners with churches and nonprofits across Ontario to create meaningful employment for amazingly talented individuals living with disabilities and mental illness.

Elena Haskell – Elena is a valued member of The Raw Carrot Soup Enterprise Headquarters and loves growing God’s work in local communities through supportive employment. Her own experiences being homeschooled and living with a brother with an intellectual disability have led to firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to be an outsider and given her a desire to be an advocate for those who are vulnerable. In pursuit of where God is leading her, Elena is completing her third year in Spiritual Formation through the Emmaus Formation Center.

Rebecca Sherbino – With an undergraduate Degree in Global Development, Peace and Justice and a Master’s Degree in International Development, Rebecca has always had a passion for working with people. Her past work in developing countries fueled a desire to pursue justice for people both overseas and at home, which resulted in community advocacy in Paris, ON. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities for work for teens and adults with mental health and learning disabilities in her church congregation, she and good friend (and co-director!) Colleen, were challenged to explore how to promote change within their local context. A late-night coffee date in May 2014 turned into a brainstorming session about the possibility of creating meaningful work for people with disabilities, and over the course of the evening, the idea of launching The Raw Carrot Soup Enterprise was born.

Margaret Mullin is the Executive Director of Winnipeg Inner City Missions, which is supported through Presbyterians Sharing. She has been working in the inner city for eight years and has received a Woman of Distinction award for her work in inner city Winnipeg. Margaret is an ordained minister of The Presbyterian Church in Canada as well as a trained nurse. Ojibway and Irish/Scottish in origin, she follows both Christian and Aboriginal Traditional Spiritual ways.

The Rev. Lora Nafziger serves as Staff Care and Counselling Advisor with United Mission to Nepal (UMN), a faith-based international NGO that strives to help all Nepalis achieve a fuller life through medical and community development programs. Living in Kathmandu, Lora provides spiritual and emotional support to all expatriate UMN staff and key Nepali staff, encouraging personal and team growth. The UNM has over 500 staff. While most are Nepali, approximately 44 are expatriate staff who work as medical professionals and advisory staff for projects.

Want to meet Lora, learn more about Nepal and the work of UMN? Invite Lora to speak at your church while she is in Canada this summer. Lora will be in BC from May 16-31 and in ON from June 1-21 and from July 20-August 2.

The PCC supports the Rev. Dr. Blair D. Bertrand as he serves as Mission Staff and Liaison to Zomba Theological University (ZTU) of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP), Malawi, and works with the Vice Chancellor of ZTU.

Joel Sherbino serves as the part-time Malawi Liaison with the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian, Blantyre Synod. Based in Paris, Ont., Joel provides year-round support by phone and email to local chaplains and volunteers who are sharing the love of Christ with inmates in Malawian prisons. Through Bible study, worship, personal counselling and occasional distributions of medicines, sleeping mats and Bibles, this prison ministry makes a positive difference for those living in incredibly difficult circumstances. During an annual two-week visit to Malawi, Joel accompanies the team on their daily prison visits. With the blessing of the Presbytery and his congregation, Joel is a living link that fosters the relationship we share in Jesus Christ.