Colette Ladan
Born and raised in Calgary, Colette Ladan counts it a blessing to have lived in such a young and happening city most of her life. From telephone operator to sales manager to corporate trainer, Colette has always gone above and beyond for her customers, employers and co-workers. Colette’s vast experience transcends the corporate world. Colette has been involved in ministry all of her life. She has worked with youth, young adults, she has led sports outreaches, mission trips and has taught the message of the Bible for over 25 years.
When the invitation came in 1998 to give up the corporate life and pioneer a new ministry in Poland, Colette was initially reluctant, but then saw the hand of God at work, and like everything else, gave herself to the work whole-heartedly. In the years that followed, Colette provided spiritual direction for the English ministry, home-group Bible studies, special events and seeker outreach ministries as well as to team members and students one-on-one. Whether she finds herself in L.A., Tijuana, Calgary or Poland, Colette’s years of ministry and work experience have given her the ability to make the Word of God come alive as she offers practical and memorable life applications. Thanks to Colette’s teaching, many have come to know the saving grace and life-giving message of the Gospel.
As Colette finds herself transitioning to ministry in Krakow, how does she view another fresh start at this point in her life? You’ll just have to watch and see all the new curriculum ideas, Bible studies in waiting and the special events that she’s cooking up for the second wave in the new Graceland Education Centre. It’s definitely not going to be boring and it will definitely have that unique Graceland signature, with Colette’s fingerprints all over it.
Jay Bowyer
Having lived in Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg and Calgary, Jay Bowyer considers herself a true blue Canadian. Her 15 years experience in the women’s retail sector gives her an edge in team building, business practices and customer care. Although she loved her career in retail, Jay says she has definitely found her niche in teaching Bible-themed English to Polish students. “It’s an absolute thrill helping someone go from zero English to conversant in such a short time. And watching a student’s spiritual horizons broaden as they come to know the love and grace of God, well, that’s the icing on the cake for me.”
In 1998, Jay gave up the corporate life and shifted to a life in ministry. Reaching out to middle classes business people and their families in Ciechanow, Poland was the most exciting thing she had ever done. With no previous EFL experience, Jay got the training she needed and threw herself completely into reaching the lost with the message of Jesus Christ through God-honouring, biblically themed English material. She has now graduated to writing curriculum and testing it in her own classroom. A far cry from the Shopping Centre, Jay still uses those well-honed retail skills to keep her students engaged and coming back for more.
8 years and over 520 students later, Jay has only grown more committed to Outreach English Ministries and specifically to creating the irresistible community that keeps students coming back to Graceland Education Centre. Now she will get to do it all over again in one of the most culturally rich cities in all of Europe, Krakow, Poland.
Verone Caspell
Verone is the mother of 4 adult daughters and grandmother of 8 fantastic grandkids. Verone is one of those women who has done it all and has done it with grace and the love of God shining through. She farmed in Southern Alberta, home-schooled her children, worked as a registered nurse and then served as a missionary in the Philippines for 6 years. After her husband Lloyd passed away, Verone returned to the Philippines to finish the work she had begun there.
After a couple of years back in Canada catching up with her family and friends, Verone felt God telling her to get ready for the next season of her life. During a visit to her home, Colette and Jay suggested a short visit to Poland. A few months later, Verone contacted the Graceland team and said she would come to teach English for a semester. After just a few weeks of teaching at Graceland, Verone said she knew this was where "the next season" was going to be spent. Verone's ministry to her students has an impact that extends beyond the classroom. She has had students to her home and has been taken on all sorts of cultural and historical excursions by those who just wanted to share all they could with her. A highlight for Verone was her Narnia class, it was perfectly timed to correspond to the worldwide release of the film and the students loved how she brought the characters to life.
Verone is excited to begin her 4th semester in "the Second Wave" in Krakow because she believes that the partnership between Graceland and the church planting team will create the perfect atmosphere to reach out to those newly settled in the target area. Verone has found a good balance between supporting her adult children, being a grandma and serving God overseas. She is a great example to all who know her and Graceland is blessed to have her on the team.
Dorota Kaczmarczyk
Dorota is a young Polish woman finishing her university studies at the very moment. She studied Polish literature and language (philology). But her main interest is looking for ways to help spread the wonderful news that Jesus really IS the true and living Son of God and not just a religious methaphore. Because she has grown among people to which christianity is just a form of culture and “evangelical christianity” quite a mysterious term, she strongly desires to reach people with the true hope as well as make the evangelical churches known to them, since she sees that you are always scared of what you do not know and it's quite difficult to believe somebody you're scared of.
She believes Graceland School of English is a good way of making change in both issues. Serving people in practical areas of life is a great opportunity to let them know you as a Christian and know Christ through you.
Shawna Gibbs
Although Calgary, Alberta is her home, Shawna Gibbs has kept an eye on Poland for quite a while. She decided early on that Graceland was definitely a place she wanted to visit. She made not one but two preliminary short-term journeys with Alberta Bible College and was completely hooked. Shawna returned to Graceland in January of 2007 to see if life in Krakow was for her. Two months into the semester, she knew it was, and made a commitment until Summer of 2008.
Shawna's heart for young children has brought her to Graceland, and she is helping us to pioneer a new outreach through child-care. Parents come and leave their kids with Shawna while they are in English class. For some of the moms that come to the morning classes, these are the only mornings in the week where they can enjoy an uninterrupted coffee. The fun colourful childcare rooms and the great toys along with Shawna's no-stress personality, make it a comfortable place for kids . . . and a place where parents can have peace of mind that their children are in good hands!
It's amazing to see how much this service is appreciated and the whole Graceland team appreciates how well Shawna does what she does.
Tomek Mikulowski
Tomek Mikulowski is a big guy with a big heart. He has a passion for using English as a way to reach his fellow countrymen with the Gospel because he was involved in an Outreach English Ministry in Krakow for a number of years. In fact, Tomek is so passionate about English ministry, that he volunteers his time with Graceland apart from his regular work and his service in the local church-plant. Tomek is even more excited about Graceland because of his ability to connect with students on a spiritual level almost immediately. The materials in the courses lend themselves to spiritual discussion in a natural, relaxed environment.
Tomek's "office" at Graceland is the Espresso Yourself Cafe, where he proudly tells all the students which coffee concoction he's trying today and gets them to sip along with him (. . . but don't tell his wife, he's supposed to be cutting out the caffeine). The students enjoy Tomek's easy-going ways and he can talk to anybody about anything, but if you get him started on computer, or cell phone technology, watch out, you won't get a word in edge-wise.
Tomek is also a good cultural broker for the team. With so many years experience working for foreigners in ministry, Tomek is sensitive enough to North Americans that he can anticipate the things they will or will not "get". Many of our guests have mistaken Tomek for an American as he uses idioms and slang that the average Polish person wouldn't. And speaking of expressions . . . if his cell service goes down, don't be surprised if you hear him use his favourite English expletive . . . BUMMER!!!
Sarah Graham
Jay and Colette met up with Sarah Graham while on a speaking tour in the USA. She graciously hosted them in her dorm room at Mid-South Christian College and as they say, the rest is history. Sarah had many questions about Graceland and specifically how we perceived the use of art in ministry. One conversation led to another and before we knew it, Sarah was applying for an internship opportunity in Krakow.
Sarah is a an intern from Mid-South Christian College and is completing her internship in Missions. Sarah's passion for art will have her exploring the use of art in ministry and specifically in a mission setting. At Graceland, we are not traditional in our methods of teaching and are continually trying creative and fun ways for students to acquire and retain language skills. Sarah will be fulfilling a unique role with the Graceland team and will be with us for the 2007-2008 school year. She will teach elementary aged children English as well as help them explore their artistic skills and will assist with childcare during adult class times. She will also be working on various art projects for the ministry, such as illustrating curriculum and creating customized visual aids for the specific curriculum Graceland has developed. Sarah is helping to fund her trip by doing something she loves . . . cleaning . . . she has taken on the responsibility of cleaning the school and cafe . . . on top of her teaching responsibility, language practice, cultural adaptations, and on-line courses.
Charlotte Nyrose
Charlotte, a native Calgarian, traveled to Graceland for two weeks with a team from Alberta Bible College in the fall of 2007. During her time there, she was able to experience life at Graceland. She was able to teach a class and be involved in an “Open Mic” night at the cafe. She knew right away that one day she wanted to return. What she didn’t know was how soon that day would be.
Charlotte’s main role at Graceland will be in the cafe, not just making drinks, but getting people in the cafe to buy drinks. Charlotte loves to plan and organize things and that is exactly what she will be doing. Her dream is to help plan events that will 1) get the name of Graceland out there and 2) bring the people of the community to Graceland and 3) ultimately experience the love of Christ. Charlotte’s biggest passions are music and people.
Charlotte has a love for teaching and is planning on starting her education degree in the fall of 2008. She is excited to have the opportunity to teach in a completely different setting then she ever would in Canada.
