Personal Testimony

 

I was born and raised in a Toronto Fellowship Baptist church home and accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour when I was six years old. I have a wonderful Christian heritage on both sides of my family. When I was 16 I went to an “encounter weekend” at Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale) but decided it “wasn't for me”, after all, I was taught that: “girls cannot be pastors”. 13 years later and after a long road of happily coming to terms with my gifts, my calling, the death of my saintly mother, and the confidence that indeed women can be pastors, I enrolled at Tyndale. I have gone on to finish a Master of Divinity at Wycliffe, University of Toronto. Along with all of this, I met, and have been married for over 28 years to a wonderful Christian named Paul Schmidt, whom has been supportive of my growth in Christ and of my desires to serve as a pastor. In the future I would like to continue with a Doctorate of Ministry with a focus on Preaching. Paul and I were blessed with a huge surprise named Victoria Rose born November 7th , 2011

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Experience 

 

Reverend Pamela Fitkin is a level three ordained pastor with Canadian Baptist of Ontario and Quebec. She has been married to her wonderful husband Paul Schmidt for almost 29 years (May 28, 2022 will be their 29th anniversary.) They have a miracle daughter named Victoria Rose, who will be 11 in November. Pamela's is passionate about preaching and has been praying about doing a Doctorate in Ministry called New Testament Context which will help congregations read the Bible more authentically. She also likes a good cup of tea and chocolate!

Pamela first came to Ossington Ave Baptist church back 2014 and has remained with us over the years as an interim and pulpit supply Pastor. 

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Being raised in an active church home, I was taught early about the many roles one can have and what capacity they can serve in at church. I have learned the “hard way” that knowing your gifts well, helps you to not burn out or take on jobs within the church that really are not suited to you. Also, having thought a great deal about “what is the church” and having taken three classes on the topic at seminary, I presently take my understanding of “worship” from Romans 12 verses 1-2 and from the Great Commission Mathew 28. Here, I am learning that worship is an everyday activity, not just a once a week event. In terms of corporate worship, I love to read scripture and doing the pastoral prayer. I am highly creative and enjoy the many dynamic ideas people have for worship services. However, Preaching is where i am most energized and fulfilled and see Preaching as the crux of corporate worship. As much as I am fulfilled at planning and participating in worship services, I truly feel worship needs to be an everyday, lived out, missional activity within a loving relationship with God.

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Awards

• Recipient of the Leonard Griffith Preaching Award for Expository Preaching

• Recipient of Wycliffe Bursary Award (2x)

• Recipient of Penny-Hauge Bursary from BCOQ for the Outstanding Baptist Category

• Recipient of Robert Duey Memorial Bursary from Tyndale University (x2) for Outstanding Academics

• Recipient of Irwin Gleason Memorial Award for Missions

• Jerry Goldberg Memorial Award for Excellence in Theater