Staff
Marcel Kurtz
Lead Pastor
Marcel has served at Valley Church since 1999. He came to work with the youth when he was 23, and hasn’t left. In 2008 he transitioned into the role of Associate pastor, and in Jan. 2018 he became the Lead Pastor. Marcel attended bible college at Eston College, and has taken his Masters of Christian Leadership through the Crest program. Marcel has an amazing wife which he has been married to since 1996, and two wonderful boys!
Kristina Kurtz
Office Administrator
Kristina Kurtz was born in Jerusalem but moved to Saskatchewan at an early age. After graduating from high school she attended FGBI (now Eston College) where she also met her husband Marcel. Soon after Bible College, Marcel and Kristina were married and started youth pastoring in Victoria. They moved to Valley Church in 1999 and soon welcomed their two boys, Austn and Jordan, into the world. Once the boys started school, Kristina came on staff as music director for several years, then worked in ladies ministry, and is now serving at the front desk as office administrator.
Melonie Boser
Administration Pastor
Mel was born and grew up in Starbuck, Manitoba. After high school she went to Sanford Collegiate, SIAST out of Saskatoon and studied to be an accounting clerk. She then went to Full Gospel Bible Institute in 1996 and got a Theology Degree Minoring in Counseling. Mel has been here since 2000 when she braved the mountain trip from Saskatchewan to come and work as a Childrens Ministry intern. Currently she works with our preteens and also our admin for the church. Mel and her husband Dean live close and love to serve and love on people.
Ragland Royappan
Associate Pastor
Ragland was born and raised in a Pastor's family in the suburbs of Chennai, a South Indian city. Following his undergraduate degree in commerce, he reluctantly moved into a seminary for theological training where he was reaffirmed of his calling. His first visit to Canada in 2008 brought him to Regent College in Vancouver, BC, where he earned his Post Graduate Diploma, following which he moved back to India to get married to his wonderful wife Sandy and minister along side his father for the next 7 years. Ragland's second visit to Canada took him and his wife to Toronto, Ontario, where he pursed a specialized education in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Ragland joined Valley Church as Assistant Pastor in 2021. Ragland and Sandy love being surrounded by family and friends.
Trish Windsor
Worship Ministry Director
Trish was born and raised in Powell River where she met and married her husband, Ken. Trish and Ken moved to Gibsons in the late 80’s, where they raised there 2 kids and lived for 23 years. In Gibsons, Trish volunteered, ran her own catering business and worked for VCH at a seniors day program for 15 years. After raising her family, Trish discovered her love and passion for music. As a percussionist and singer Trish was involved in the music community, which led to serving in music ministry at her local church. There, she found a bigger purpose for her love of music. Over 20 years later, Trish’s experience serving and leading has provided many opportunities to share God's love and goodness through song. As a part of the Valley church team, Trish uses her leadership skills to support the music ministry and continues leading God's people in worship.
Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Charles Tetteh-Lartey
Youth Pastor
Charles born in the UK and moved with his Ghanaian family to North Vancouver in 2002.
After becoming a Christian in 2010, Charles soon became invested in serving in many different areas of Valley Chuch, and followed his passion for youth to Pacific Life Bible College. There, he graduated with a Youth Ministry Degree.
Charles has loved serving Valley Church and continues to passionately serve in youth ministry!
Edina Shaw
Children's Ministry Director
Edina was born and raised in Vancouver, BC and Valley Church has been her home since 2000. Over the years she has been involved in children’s ministry, youth group, young adults, recovery ministry and women’s ministry. It was in this community that Edina met her amazing husband, Eric Shaw, who also grew up at Valley Church. Edina has spent some years working as a Licensed Practical Nurse and was in school for Community Social Services until she and Eric welcomed the birth of her first daughter, Anora. A couple of years later, they were blessed with their rambunctious son, Elias.
Lani Hechanova
Receptionist
Lani is married to Benny and has 3 daughters Katrina, Gladys & Valerie. They were the first Filipino family that joined Valley Church in 1987. Lani finished a degree in Business Administration, Accounting Major in Manila, Philippines. She worked in a corporate setting in Vancouver before she was hired as the Church Bookkeeper in 2005. Lani retired from bookkeeping in 2020 and now works as our receptionist. Her favorite thing to do at church is to meet new people, make them feel welcome and loved all the while experiencing Jesus in a way they have never experienced Him before. Lani is so honored to be a part of Valley Church, and to do life alongside wonderful people on our staff and in our community.
Ruth Mitchell
Bookkeeper
Ruth was born into a farming community in Northern Ireland. After meeting her husband, Andrew, and having 3 sons the family set out on an adventure to live in Vancouver in 2007. While planning to stay for only 2-5 years they fell in love with North Vancouver and Lynn Valley Full Gospel Church which they now call home. Ruth has a BA (Hons) Business Studies, majoring in Financial Management & Operations Management, and has been employed with Valley Church since Dec 2020. Her heart is joyful in serving family, friends and her community. Her passions involve most things outdoor, especially hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, skiing and gardening.
