Speakers

• Ben Volman
  

  Ben Volman

  Ben Volman grew up in a conservative Jewish home in Toronto. As a young student of philosophy and English at the University of Toronto, he began to consider the reality of God and the person of Jesus of Nazareth. After reading the Bible, his search for truth led him to a campus meeting to hear the well-known Jewish evangelist, Art Katz. At that meeting in 1976, Ben allowed Jesus to become his Lord and Saviour and his life was changed.
  Ben became involved with the Messianic Jewish congregational movement and felt led to become better equipped for leadership. He entered Knox College (Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto) and earned his M. Div., including a period of graduate work in Chicago, both at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Spertus College of Judaica. Between 1982 and 1991 Ben worked for three missions, including five years as a Messianic congregational planter for Chosen People Ministries in Toronto.
  Since then, Ben has been a senior fundraising administrator with some of Canada’s largest non-profit charities and a consultant to Christian ministries. He has also been a national board member of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of
  Canada and served on the administrative committee of the International Messianic Jewish Alliance. He has been a contributing editor and Executive Director of The Messianic Times. His testimony and articles on Israel and Messianic Judaism have appeared in international publications. You’ll find his personal blog is Messianic Insight.
  Today, Ben has re-joined the staff of Chosen People Ministries, assisting in congregational planting in Toronto and mentoring our newer missionaries.
  Ben lives in Toronto with his wife, Sue, and their adult son, Jonathan.

• Charles Hopkin
  

  Charles Hopkin

  Born and raised in Tanzania, the Land of Mount Kilimanjaro and Serengeti National Park, Charles attended a Roman Catholic boarding school and Agricultural College where he specialized in irrigation.

  In 1983 in Dar es Salaam, Charles attended a Bible study; his life would never be the same. When the leader taught from Jeremiah 17:1-5 and Psalm 1, Charles totally surrendered to God and was transformed.
  After Charles and Joan were married, the Lord God led them to pioneer an English service in their local congregation. From this an Ethiopian and another ethnic congregation were started.
  Meanwhile, they joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM), working in England, Kenya, Uganda and Canada. They attended the Discipleship Training School, Basic Leadership School and School of Community Counselling. They also served as house staff, school staff and as leaders of small teams in Kenya and Tanzania. Charles led prayer teams from Tanzania to Israel and to other cities in Africa.
  While in Tanzania, Charles served in a variety of ways, including ministering with other Christian organizations, at a juvenile detention centre, an orphanage, in private and government-run schools.
  Charles has studied with Bible Study Fellowship International and has completed some Messianic Yeshiva studies.
  Despite the fact that he has a Jewish heritage, Charles grew up without knowing anything about it – although he was always rooting for Israel. A visit to Jerusalem’s Kotel (Western or Wailing Wall) during the Fall Feasts of 1998 was a turning point in his life. He felt Isaiah 11:11-12 become a reality in his life.
  Eventually, God called Charles and Joan to Canada – the Land of Immigrants. Charles has been on staff with Chosen People Ministries (Canada) since 2008. He and Joan live and serve in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

  We are saddened to report that Joan Hopkin passed into the presence of her Lord on Saturday, May 18, 2019.

• Jorge Sedaca
  

  Jorge Sedaca

  Executive Director of Chosen People Ministries (Canada) since the fall of 2010, Jorge Sedaca brings vast experience in the areas of congregational planting, missions, leadership development, as well as teaching and preaching ministries.
  Jorge was born in Spain and raised in Argentina, Uruguay and the USA. He is a second generation Jewish believer. His father, Victor Sedaca, was a pioneer in the Messianic movement in the US and Latin America. His brother, David, has been a well-known leader in the international Messianic movement and currently works with Chosen People Ministries in the US.
  Although his first call to ministry was in the area of music and worship, Jorge ultimately surrendered to God’s call to preach and teach His Word, as well as to become a church planting missionary. In this capacity, he pastored in Argentina, Louisiana, and Michigan.
  His passion to reach the lost sheep of Israel and educate the Gentile church to do the same has provided him with many opportunities to speak at conferences, seminars, and workshops in Latin America and North America.
  Jorge has a Bachelor’s degree from the Buenos Aires Municipal Conservatory of Music (Argentina) and a Master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Texas). He is pursuing his Doctor of Ministry degree in Missions and Leadership Development from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Missouri).
  Jorge and Marta Sedaca have three grown children, two granddaughters and a grandson (now with the Lord).

• Marcello Araujo
  

  Marcello Araujo

  Marcello Araujo was born and raised in a Jewish family in Ecuador, South America.
  As he grew up, this nice Jewish boy became a political activist who wanted to change the world through Marxism.
  Marcello studied drama and eventually formed a politically-oriented theatre troupe designed to spread the “good news” of the gospel according to Marx. However, in 1992, Marcello heard the true Good News and was transformed by his relationship with Jesus the Jewish Messiah.
  Marcello has said, “I wanted to change the world through Marxism, not knowing that God wanted me to be part of His world-changing plan, by sharing His love and the true Gospel, the Gospel of life, the Gospel of Yeshua.”
  Today, Marcello uses drama and other creative means to effectively communicate the Good News of Messiah to the lost sheep of Israel.
  Chosen People Ministries (Canada) is pleased to have Marcello and his wife, Diana, on our team in the Greater Toronto Area. Together, they bring many years of ministry experience and a passion for Jewish evangelism.

• Michael Wodlinger
  

  Michael Wodlinger

  Michael was raised in a Jewish home in Toronto. His grandparents immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine in the late 1800s. Michael came to faith in Messiah Jesus later in life. Intrigued by the changes in his wife, Chantal, when she first came to faith, Michael’s curiosity and the gentle ministry of dear friends eventually brought him to the Lord. A Chosen People Ministries staff member had the privilege of praying with him when Michael decided to trust in the Lord.

  Michael Wodlinger has been a professional educator for over 40 years, as teacher, administrator, researcher, author, consultant and counsellor. He has a Masters degree from the University of Toronto and a Doctorate from the University of Alberta. He has also completed a Master of Theological Study in Spiritual Formation at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto.

  Michael has been working with educators in industry, health services, education, and churches. He has most recently been employed as Associate Professor of Education at Nipissing University. An author of several books on adult education, reflective practice, effective mentoring and numerous other publications, Michael has focused his professional activities on critical thinking, decision making and mentoring skills.

  Michael began his latest phase of career and ministry by serving with Chosen People Ministries initially in Toronto and then Winnipeg. As he draws closer to retirement, Michael and Chantal have moved to Quebec where they will continue to minister to local churches and share the Gospel wherever possible.