Ryan, Julia & Annika

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Julia

Having grown up in Ladner, Ladner CRC is the only church that I have ever really known. The oldest of four children, I grew up in a loud and happy home where Christianity and faith were taught to me by my parents and elementary school teachers at Delta Christian School. I met Ryan in high school, and we started dating in our grade 12 year. It’s funny to think about how much and how little we have changed since then!

After high school, I completed my Bachelor of Science in Earth & Ocean Science at UBC, and then went on to complete my Bachelor of Education to become a high school teacher. For the past ten years, I have taught science at South Delta Secondary; I love having the opportunity to cultivate curious minds, especially about processes that relate to the Earth and its stewardship. As part of an outdoor leadership club, I take a group of 18 students on a trip to the West Coast Trail each year – seven days of hiking, camping, and carrying everything you need on your back, all while gazing at the Pacific Ocean from the serene west coast of Vancouver Island!

Outside of work, I enjoy reading, being active, and spending time with our three-year-old daughter, Annika. As a family, we enjoy hiking, camping, gardening, and spending time outdoors. Having been astounded by the beauty and uniqueness of US National Parks like Zion and Yellowstone, we are eager to spend more time on road trips around North America. 

At church, I’ve been involved with Worship Committee, nursery, Sunday School, media technology, and Basic Skills Camp. I really value these commitments and find them to be a good way to get to know people in our congregation better. 

My favourite Bible passage is Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Ryan

I’ve spent my whole life in South Delta and was raised on the farm at Sunnyside Nurseries. I grew up with lots of family around—one set of grandparents on the farm and the other set just down the road. My parents are Len and Kathy whom you may know if you are an avid gardener. I have a younger sister, Corrine, who just finished staying with us for a year and a half and has recently moved back to Europe.

My family is Catholic, and I attended Sacred Heart Elementary School.

In classic high school sweetheart fashion, I met Julia at Delta Secondary and we’ve been together for 17 years, having married in 2010. I joined Ladner CRC in 2005 and have found it a welcoming place to belong. Our daughter Annika was born in 2018 and she just celebrated her third birthday on June 13th.

I work in software, developing video games. It’s a rewarding and sometimes challenging job that uses cutting edge technology to make toys for kids and adults alike. I spend a lot of time outdoors with my immediate family and cousins. I enjoy everything outdoors, from family camping, hiking, and canoeing to rock and mountain climbing. Many people assume that since I am tall, I would be good at basketball, but in fact I am quite terrible, and you definitely don’t want me on your team!

I’ve been with the CRC for about 16 years and have been a Cadet leader for 10 of those years. I’ve also been a Deacon and have been a worship leader for six years. After a long break I will be involved in that again in July.

The thing I find most challenging with Christianity today is how it tends to get wrapped up in politics. Often those political statements are distracting from the message of the Bible at best, and downright contradictory at worst. I work in a very secular job at a very secular company, and people often make wrong assumptions about what I believe or who I am, based on what they hear in the news.

One of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 104. It has beautiful imagery and shows us how God really does provide for all things and all people.

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Questing for God