OUR TEAM
■ Charles Cook, PhD
– Executive Director of the Jaffray Centre for Global Initiatives and Professor of Global Studies and Mission at Ambrose Seminary
Charlie is the Executive Director of the Jaffray Centre for Global Initiatives and Professor of Global Studies and Mission at Ambrose University where he has served since 1989. Prior to teaching at Ambrose, the Cooks worked in Bolivia, Mexico and Argentina. Born to Canadian international workers he was raised in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. When he is not teaching he can be found involved in various Jaffray related activities in different corners of the world. One of his quirks is his glass Coca Cola bottle collection from some ninety-three countries. Come join him on the journey by chasing him down at http://twitter.com/cdnglobalsoul or contact him at jaffray@ambrose.edu.
■ Lauren Umbach, MA
– Research and Program Coordinator, Jaffray Centre
Lauren has been the Research and Program Coordinator for the Jaffray Centre since 2016. Prior to that she managed two cafes in Laos with a Business as Missions focus for three years, and spent a year in Vietnam teaching English. Lauren has a Master of Arts in Intercultural Ministries from Ambrose Seminary.
Lauren can be reached at jaffray@ambrose.edu or (403) 410-2000 ext. 3997.
■ Sadiri Joy Tira, DMiss, DMin
– Convener of the Jaffray diasporaNet Research Initiative and Diaspora Missiology Specialist as well as Sessional Intercultural Studies Professor at Ambrose University
Sadiri Tira, more commonly known as Joy, is a missions practitioner who travels extensively around the globe mobilizing Christians in diaspora, particularly the globally scattered Filipinos to help fulfill the Great Commission. Born and raised in the Philippines, Joy and his wife Lulu immigrated to Canada in 1981 and are now naturalized Canadians. They are based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada — one of Canada’s top destinations for new immigrants and foreign workers. Joy serves as the Lausanne Movement‘s Senior Associate for Diasporas. He can be contacted at jaffray@ambrose.edu.
■ Ray Aldred, PhD
— Convener of the firstPeoples Initiative (Institute for Indigenous Research)
Reverend Ray Aldred is ordained with the Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada. He is status Cree from Treaty 8. Born in Northern Alberta, he now resides with his wife in Richmond, BC, Canada. Ray is the Director of the Indigenous Studies Program at Vancouver School of Theology. He is former Director for the First Nations Alliance Churches of Canada, now committee member, where he worked to encourage pastors ministering to Indigenous people. He is the chairperson of Indigenous Pathways and the North American Institute of Indigenous Theological Studies. He is the former chairperson of the Native Ministries Council for the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. Ray also has had the privilege of addressing several college conferences and meetings related to cross-cultural ministry. Ray’s passion is to help as many as possible hear the gospel in their heart language. Ray and his wife, Elaine are also involved in ministry to help train people to facilitate support groups for people who have suffered abuse. Ray and Elaine have four children. He can be contacted at jaffray@ambrose.edu.
■ Majd Alajji, MDiv
— Convener of the newComers Initiative
Majd AlAjji is the Regional Manager of Ethnic Churches at the Canadian Bible Society. His focus is reaching out to diaspora churches and coming alongside them by resourcing their ministries in literature in their own languages. Majd AlAjji worked with refugees prior to his current position is several cities in Lebanon and Canada. He was overseeing for the private sponsorship program for the Canadian Baptist denomination and brings extensive first-hand experience in dealing with the Syrian diaspora in Western Canada. Majd holds an undergrad degree in English Literature and a Masters Degree in Divinity. He can be contacted at jaffray@ambrose.edu.
