Introducing Josh Peters
Hello everyone!
My name is Josh Peters, and this is my wife, Debra, and our four children: Alyssa (13), Jonah (9), Shannon (6), and Hadassah (3). It is hard to believe that we have nearly completed four years at CRTS. How the time has flown by! Our family history begins in Neerlandia. I grew up just outside of this small hamlet in northern Alberta on a pig farm and attended school at Covenant Canadian Reformed School. Once I graduated from school in 2005, I began working for my uncle in construction installing eavestroughs, soffit/fascia, and siding. Outside of work, I enjoy playing sports: hockey, baseball, soccer, and basketball. In 2007, I met my wife Debra (nee Chase), for the first time at a Calgary Study Weekend. We met again a few months later at a Neerlandia Study Weekend, and thereafter we met regularly. It was also during this time that I entered trade school at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology) and eventually earned my Red Seal ticket in carpentry.
Debra and I were married in 2009 and welcomed our first daughter in 2010. As a couple, we became involved in helping lead youth group, and I began to attend a wonderful Saturday morning men’s bible study. Our pastor, Rev. Louwerse, often mentioned the need for men in the ministry, and I began to think about it more and more. One day after work, I sat down with Rev. Louwerse, who encouraged me to study for the ministry. Before taking up studying, though, we took over my uncle’s business which we operated for four years. In 2016, we sold the business and moved to Edmonton so that I could attend the University of Alberta. We had four wonderful years in Edmonton and experienced much growth during our time in Immanuel CanRC. We cherish the close friendships that we made during that time.
In 2020, we sold our home in Edmonton, took our four children (Hadassah was just two months old), and drove across much of Canada to take up residence in Hamilton. We are currently attending Providence church and we love the community here as well. I did my first internship (two-week orientation) with my old pastor, Rev. Louwerse, who had since moved to Hamilton from Neerlandia. In the summer of 2022, we drove back to Edmonton, Alberta, for the summer and completed a preaching and pastoral internship at our old church, Immanuel, alongside Rev. VanSpronsen. For our third summer, I completed a mission internship with Rev. Bultje at River of Life church in Niagara Falls. I am incredibly thankful for the wisdom, practical teaching, and time these three men offered me. I was also given the opportunity to teach catechism full-time for two years at our Hamilton home church, Providence, which allowed me to work through the entire catechism.
It is hard to believe that all these years of study are coming to a close. Yet, I look forward to the lifelong learning ahead of me. The Lord has blessed us richly during these years and has made it so clear that we are entirely dependent on him and his goodness. I am grateful to the seminary for all the valuable training I have received. The professors, staff, and classmates have become close friends whom we love. I will miss them all. I am particularly grateful for the support of my mentor, Dr. Smith. He has been a source of great encouragement to me. I hope to present myself for Classis this June, the Lord willing. We are excited to see where the Lord will have us serve him and his people. The harvest is plentiful!