Lead Minister

Allan delights in stories — the stories of people’s lives. Stories of unexpected turns, challenges encountered, tough decisions made, love and friendship offered, lives renewed. He listens to those stories for hints of insights gained…insights about the nature of our souls and the nature of our God.

Allan believes in a God who is full of surprises and full of grace…a God who comes to us in countless ways…a God whose eternal nature is shown to us especially in a common carpenter from Nazareth. Jesus befriended the outcast, preached Good News, taught and lived a life of blessing, suffered the Cross and now is risen that we might be an Easter people.

Seeking to walk in Jesus’ way and rely on his companionship, we discover gifts: faith for the journey, hope that sustains us in times of limbo, and love that is both resilient and miraculous. A community of faith such as ours offers infinite opportunities to explore and attain these spiritual resources.

Allan values a church which celebrates the diversity of people, where all are welcomed and there is creative programming for every age. He enjoys preaching, and is glad to share in leading worship in a variety of styles. He plays guitar for the children’s songs and in the contemporary FM band.

Allan came to First†Metropolitan in the summer of 1999, following 22 years of ministry in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. While ministering with the Sturgeon Creek congregation in Winnipeg, he also had been elected President of the Conference of Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. Highlights of his term as President included coordinating the church’s response to the Red River "Flood of the Century" and an all-day festival to mark the Ecumenical Decade of Churches in Solidarity with Women, attended by 3000 persons.

Allan studied for the ministry at Emmanuel College, Toronto School of Theology (University of Toronto), and was a Visiting Scholar at Andover Newton and the Boston Theological Institute.

His interests include nature, hiking, music, guitar, art, current affairs, travel, kayaking, drama.

Staff Associate, Children, Youth, Young Adults and Family Ministry

Born as a third generation Christian in Nara, Japan. Megumi (pronounced: Meg-a-me) has lived across Canada over the last 24 years, to arrive in Victoria in the summer of 1999. Her focus here is on Sunday School. She has vast teaching experience. She loves being with children and people who are interested in nurturing children. Megumi likes to use popular education as an important teaching method including drama, music, games, crafts, etc. Megumi believes children’s faith journey begins at a very early age and it is very important to nurture their spirituality. This helps build their own identity and faith which will sustain and encourage their life journey in adulthood.

Besides children’s issues, Megumi is involved in women’s issues in the global context. She believes her role is bridging ministry by helping people from different backgrounds to see things from the perspectives of others. i.e. Lay and Ordained/Commissioned ministers, different generations, cross-cultural, male and female, ecumenical, interfaith and global, sexual orientation, rural and urban. She seeks to bring dialogue, understanding and respect of differences to bridge the gap between people and work together towards the common good.