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Who We Are

Connecting Purpose to EveryDay Life

Who We Are

Spotlight Church was planted in 2012 as a new congregation of the Central Canada District of The Wesleyan Church  Founding Pastor, Rev Aaron Birtch served until February 2017.  In May 2017, Rev Mark Parker moved to Stratford to become the Lead Pastor.

Experience life in Jesus Christ with us – follow these Steps to Faith.

 

At Spotlight Church We're All About Connecting Purpose to Everyday Life

Our Staff

Mark Parker

Senior Pastor

Mark Parker is the Senior Pastor of Spotlight Church. He has a deep passion for starting new churches and for helping existing churches to dream again. Mark is married to Helen and together have 3 adult children who are all married. He is “Grampy” to his 5 grandkids. His life verse is Acts 13:36 which says, '“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep...”

Helen Parker

Director of Worship

Helen has a deep love for worshiping God and a heart tuned to music that draws people into His presence. Ever since she first felt God's call on her life, she has served faithfully as a worship leader, using her gifts to lead others into meaningful encounters with the Lord. She has worked closely alongside Mark for many years, together serving Christ's church with joy and devotion. Helen is the proud mother of three grown children and "Grammy" to seven grandchildren, who bring her true delight.

Hannah Basbas

Director of Children's Ministry

Sarah Hadwen is the Office Administrator for Spotlight Church. She was born, and lived in Bournemouth, UK, for 24 years before moving to Canada to pursue a Masters degree in Vision Science. Sarah is married to Dale and together they have one amazing son. God clearly led them to Spotlight Church almost 9 years ago and Sarah is happy to have been working at Spotlight Church as the administrative assistant since June 2025. Her passion is to hear the voice of God and to involve Him the every day administration tasks of the church.

Hannah Basbas

Director of Children's Ministry

Hannah grew up and has lived in Stratford for her whole life. She is married to Alvin and together they have 3 young boys. When Hannah is not in the office she is spending her time homeschooling her boys along with finding time for her (too) many hobbies; reading, knitting and sewing being amongst her favourites. Hannah has always had a passion for teaching children and assuring they know how deeply they are loved by the Lord, and getting to do that at Spotlight is an answered prayer in more ways than one.

Erica Kerkhof

Visitation Assistant

Erica Kerkhof is the Visitation Assistant at Spotlight Church. She has a heart for people and a gift for making others feel seen and cared for. Erica plays a vital role in ensuring no one in the church family walks through life's seasons alone.

Our Vision & Mission

Spotlight Church exists to live by faith, to be known by love, and to be guided by God’s purposes.
The following is a “snapshot” of the preferred future of Spotlight Church under the leadership of the Holy Spirit…
1. WE DREAM to be a church where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated, and the lonely can find love, acceptance, forgiveness, encouragement, and practical help.
2. WE DREAM to intentionally be a multi-generational, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic church. We desire to be a place where both the quiet and the lively worshipper can come together in unity.
3. WE DREAM of reaching one tenth of the city of Stratford and to provide a 15 acre church campus where we can gather to grow and then scatter to serve.
4. WE DREAM of launching at least 5 new churches with one in Goderich, St. Mary’s, Northern London, New Hamburg, and Kitchener–Waterloo.
5. WE DREAM of 500 fully committed members who are loving, learning, laughing and serving together in harmony, regardless of our differences.
6. WE DREAM of starting a Leadership Ministry Centre that will be a prime location for those in ministry to refresh their pastoral training; for ministerial students to participate in Spotlight’s Residency programs; and for lay people to be empowered with basic ministry training.
7. WE DREAM of sending out short-term mission teams bi-annually and 5 long-term (career) missionaries by 2025.
8. WE DREAM of a Creative Arts Program that emphasizes the multitude of ways in which we can communicate the gospel using the arts. A CAP can also train a new generation of artists who are willing to compete without compromising their biblical values.

Our Beliefs

“Wesleyans believe in one God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the Saviour of all who put their faith in Him alone for eternal life. We believe that those who are made new in Christ are called to be holy in character and conduct, and can only live this way by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit. We believe in the Bible and its sufficiency to establish our faith and conduct. We believe God wills for people everywhere to know Him and be made new in Christ. We believe that the purpose of the Church is to worship God in spirit and in truth, and to reach a lost and fallen world with the gospel of Jesus Christ through its worship, witness, and loving deeds.”

The following are terms descriptive of who Wesleyans are and why they do what they do. They describe the “soul of the Church”:


Biblical Authority

The Bible is God’s holy Word. It uniquely and infallibly reveals God’s plan for His people and how to live out that plan, individually and corporately. Beliefs, practices, priorities, and our mission are to be anchored in clear biblical teachings.

Local Church Centered

The denomination exists to help local congregations grow and multiply, be more healthy, and more authentically reflect God’s plan. Local churches are the most fundamental and strategic points of evangelism and discipleship. The challenge of the denomination is to keep finding the best ways to serve, strengthen, and multiply congregations.

Christ Likeness

Jesus Christ is the defining feature of God’s will and relationship with all humankind. In Christ is found both newness of life and the highest and clearest example for godliness. People made new in Christ find Him to be the source of faith, hope, and love in both the inner life and in our outward actions engaging a world desperate for hope and life.

Servant Leadership

Wesleyans respect leadership that is placed over them, while realizing that the authority and effectiveness of spiritual leadership is not primarily bestowed, but earned, and is characterized by a loving and willing heart of obedience that serves God and mankind gladly. Wesleyans desire to be leaders in serving.

Disciple Making

Making disciples is a clear mandate from Christ. This requires a strong missional focus on evangelism and training in spiritual growth and holy living. Done effectively, this will produce and promote growth and health in and among the churches.

Unity In Diversity

There is intrinsic value in every person.  Biblical unity becomes all the more important and beautiful in the light of the wide ranging differences in personalities, cultures, races, languages, talents, and perspectives.  Finding true unity and mutual love in Christ eliminates devaluation and deprivation of life to one another.

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