SPEAKER BIOS

Worship leader & Learning Facilitator and Consultant

Samantha Adams is a passionate advocate for healthy, sustainable ministry and a graduate of Hillsong Leadership College. She works as a Learning Facilitator and Consultant with Breakthrough Personal & Professional Development, as well as a staff member at her local church in Guelph. With over 25 years of experience leading worship and nearly two decades directing worship and tech teams, Samantha is passionate about equipping people to serve Jesus in ways that use their gifts and nurture their wellbeing. She empowers teams to flourish in creativity, collaboration, and well-being in both professional and church settings.

Website & Social Media Handles:

https://www.break-through.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/company/breakthrough-personal-professional-development
https://www.instagram.com/breakthroughburnout/

Project Manager / Field Engineer - AV integration at Soundbox Productions

Doug Clayfield is based in Waterloo, ON, and is currently a Project Manager and Field Engineer - AV integration at Soundbox Productions in Hamilton, as well as serve as the Tech Director at WMB Church in Waterloo

Violinist, speaker, music missionary and founder/executive director of Flyingbow

Trevor is a popular electric and acoustic violinist, speaker, music missionary and founder/executive director of the music and arts mission organization, Flyingbow. His playing evokes images of Jean Luc Ponty, Hugh Marsh, Mark O’Connor, and Mark Wood (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) all melded together.

With such amazing versatility on his instruments, including the five-string electric violin, Trevor is a master at reaching any audience. He is mainly known as a solo artist, but has also played and toured with Paul Coleman (Newsboys), Robin Mark, Lynda Randal (Gaithers), Carolyn Arends, Amanda Cook and Geoff Moore. For eighteen years, Trevor previously acted as a Compassion Canada partner artist and actively promoted the cause of child poverty at his concerts. He and his band (the Trevor Dick Band) have been featured on national television programming such as 100 Huntley Street, Living Truth, KiTV and the Wav. File. Trevor has also served as an active artist partner and missionary with Gideons Canada / ShareWord Global. 

Worship leader, songwriter & touring and recording guitarist

Jerome Espiritu is a guitarist from Toronto, ON. Both a touring and recording guitarist, Jerome has had the opportunity to create, record, revamp and travel as a guitarist for Christian artists and groups like - Brooke Nicholls, Don Moen, Nate Diaz from Elevation Rhythm, Sanctus Church Worship, The Worship Project, Royal Anthems and many more. He calls Sanctus Church his home church and actively serves and volunteers there as a songwriter, worship leader and musician with his wife Terri.

Brand Manager at MultiTracks.com

André Favreau is a musician, producer, and worship leader with over 30 years of experience in both Christian and secular music. Trained at Concordia University and Drummondville College, he holds three professional degrees in piano, theory, composition, and studio creation. Since the early 1990s, he has helped shape worship music in Quebec through producing French‑language worship resources and collaborating with numerous artists and ministries. He has served in several churches as music director and worship leader and, in 2015, launched MultiTracksFr.com to equip French‑speaking churches worldwide. André now lives in the Moncton area with his wife Lynne‑Marie and their children.

Composer & CCMA and CMAO Award-nominated singer/songwriter

Scotty Kipfer is a CCMA and CMAO Award-nominated singer/songwriter whose collaborative spirit shines through his body of work.

His debut album, Taking My Time, featured collaborations with luminary artists like Tenille Townes, The Western Swing Authority, Ryan Cook, and Callie McCullough. Scotty holds production and writing credits on McCullough’s debut album, After Midnight, which features members of GRAMMY Award-winning bands, Union Station and The Time Jumpers. The album, which American Songwriter called "delicately modern and warmly classic," earned a Canadian Country Music Association Award nomination for Alternative Country Album of the Year, and the title track garnered a Songwriters of the Year nomination with the Country Music Association of Ontario. He is currently working on his second studio album, which promises another foray into his distinctively clever style.

Scotty is also infusing his whimsical sensibility into his orchestral writing. While his career spans two decades in the country music industry, his obsession with classic cartoon scores has been lifelong - from Disney to Looney Tunes, and everything in between. He is a graduate of the film scoring program at Berklee College of Music, and has studied music for animation under 9-time Emmy Award-winning composers, Steven & Julie Bernstein (Animaniacs, Pinky & The Brain, Freakazoid!). Scotty recently launched Symphony Nostalgique, an orchestral homage to iconic scores and theme songs from classic cartoons and video games.

Outside the realm of music, Scotty enjoys collecting animation production art and comic books, and he is an avid Toronto Blue Jays fan. He lives in Stratford, Ontario with his wife, their newborn son, and their dog, Ruby.

Producer, Engineer, and multi-Instrumentalist

Steve is a producer and musician whose projects have been nominated for and won Canadian Gospel Music and Juno Awards. In 2020, he was named Producer Of The Year at the Canadian Gospel Music Awards.

Worship leader & Writer

Carissa MacKendrick is a Worship Leader local to the Waterloo Region. Carissa started leading worship as a teenager, eventually travelling with a bible program worship band across Eastern Canada and the US. After studying music in university, her heart for worship ministry grew after asking God the question “why do we sing in church?” She has since completed a master’s degree researching the history and theology of musical worship and is currently wrapping up a worship book project with Judd Harris from Vertical Worship. Her passion is to teach people about God’s purpose and calling for musical worship as part of our walk with Him individually and corporately. 

Lead Pastor (Weston Road Pentecostal) & Founder of Worship Drummer

Jon Manna is the lead pastor of Weston Road Pentecostal Church (Toronto). He is also the founder of Worship Drummer, a platform dedicated to equipping, encouraging, and inspiring local church drummers all over the world. Through Worship Drummer, Jon provides high-quality resources, including drum samples, gear rundowns and reviews, and behind-the-scenes content from live worship events. With a passion for connecting drummers and celebrating their role in worship, he has cultivated a thriving community of musicians who share a heart for excellence and worship. Jon’s leadership and creativity have made Worship Drummer a trusted name in the global worship community.

Worship Leader

Keith Matthias is a seasoned bass guitarist with over 27 years of playing experience across church and worship settings, conferences, and other live gigs including weddings and restaurant performances. My musical background spans across worship music, rock, pop, and gospel, giving me a versatile and practical approach to serving songs and supporting teams. I am passionate about helping bass players grow in musicality, tone, and heart for worship.

Voice teacher, worship leader, and artist

Jacquelyn Morley is a gifted Kitchener-based voice teacher, worship leader, and artist. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Waterloo where she studied Classical Voice. Jacquelyn is highly experienced across a wide variety of styles: having led musical worship for many years, released a pop single in 2021, and currently performs with a professional chamber choir specializing in Baroque music and a four-piece jazz band.  She empowers students to trust themselves and the learning journey, fostering an environment where experimentation and “messiness” are not only welcomed, but celebrated!

Church Partnerships Lead at International Justice Mission Canada

Brian is the Church Partnerships Lead at International Justice Mission Canada, connecting churches to bring protection and safety to the world's most vulnerable people.  He has pastored in the US, Canada and the Dominican Republic, and has served internationally with World Vision and Wycliffe Bible Translators.

Multi-award-winning Canadian Christian artist, actress, and communicator

Morrissa Nicole is a multi-award-winning Canadian Christian artist, actress, and communicator recognized for her pure vocals and message of hope. Introduced to music at five, she is a classically trained pianist and vocalist, winning her first national songwriting competition at just seven years old. Competing in a national competition for music and acting led Morrissa to Nashville, TN, where she released her self-titled debut EP with the hit single What If. The project led to performances across Canada, Jamaica, and the USA.

Her 2023 EP, Devotion, featuring “Psalm 16,” reached listeners worldwide and led to guest co-hosting and appearances on 100 Huntley Street, The 700 Club Canada, Legacy Makers, and more. In 2024, she followed with Ready, highlighted by the collaborative anthem “Ready to Receive” and her first radio tour across Canada and the U.S.

As an actress, Morrissa has appeared in (selected credits include): Kim’s Convenience, Netflix’s Let It Snow, and Lifetime’s Toying With the Holidays. Her selected stage credits include High School Musical 2 and the We Will Rock You North American Tour (2019/2022), where she made her Madison Square Garden debut. She is the voice of CBC News’ The National, “The Great Tangle” on Nickelodeon’s Zokie of Planet Ruby, “Lydia Loops” on PBS Kids’ Lyla in the Loop, and “Camille” on PBS Kids’ Skillsville, where she also sings the theme song.

Her favorite saying is, “Perfection doesn’t live here, grace does.” She attributes all her success, and all that is to come, to the glory of Jesus.

Account Manager in the Design and Integration Department at Soundbox Productions

Jason Reynolds began his career in live sound in Kingston, Jamaica, where he developed his passion at Pentecostal Tabernacle under the mentorship of Paul Price. Early experience working large-scale concerts alongside his cousin Phillip Grant led to collaborations with artists such as Kirk Franklin, Kurt Carr, and Donnie McClurkin. By sixteen, he was determined to pursue live sound professionally.

After moving to Canada in 2004, Jason studied Audio Engineering and Music Production at Metalworks Institute and went on to serve churches across the Greater Toronto Area in design, integration, and technical leadership roles. His credits include Ricky Dillard’s The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto (Stellar Award–winning), Toronto Mass Choir’s Made for Worship (Covenant Award–winning), and national broadcasts such as the Legacy Awards on CBC.

He has toured as FOH/Monitor Engineer on major arena tours including the Kirk Franklin Reunion Tour, One Hallelujah Tour, The Marley Brothers’ Legacy Tour, and Maverick City Music’s Good News Tour. Jason also works in artist management, representing Jully Black and Melafrique.

Today, he serves as an Account Manager at Soundbox Productions in Hamilton, Ontario, and remains grounded in faith, discipline, and a deep respect for the craft.

Worship leader, coach & Founder of Raise Worship

Sean Saunders is a college professor and an experienced worship leader who has been serving the local church since 2008, as a worship director and a worship coach. Trained in piano, voice, and choral leading, Sean brings both musical excellence and thoughtful leadership to worship ministry. In 2022, under the FlyingBow Music Ministries umbrella, he founded Raise Worship, a coaching ministry dedicated to equipping, developing, and encouraging worship leaders and teams. Sean is grateful for the support of his wife Melinda and their three daughters, whose encouragement, wisdom, and love inspire and strengthen him in ministry work.

Worship Leader

Matt is an active member of worship teams, currently serving and playing keys at both Hope Bible Church in Oakville and Forward Church in Cambridge. Over the past year, he has also collaborated with the band Backyard Worship. His experience spans a wide variety of settings - from large conferences and worship events to weddings and funerals - teaching him the vital skill of adapting his playing style to fit different band dynamics and atmospheres. Above all, Matt is passionate about seeing young adults grow in their unique gifts and using them to further God’s kingdom.

Communications Pastor at Creekside Church

Paul Williams is a Bluenoser by birth who made his way to Ontario for school, where he studied Biblical and Ministerial Studies and later History at Wilfrid Laurier University. During that time, he met his wife, Kristin, and together they are raising two beautiful girls who keep him active, grounded, and feeling young.

For the past 20 years, Paul has served in the church tech world, beginning as a volunteer and growing through a deep love for God’s Church and the creative power of technology. That journey has shaped who he is today, and he now serves as the Communications Pastor at Creekside Church.

Paul remains continually thankful for God’s grace—and for the grace of the people God has placed in his life. He is passionate about using video, both live and produced, to communicate clearly and creatively, all for the purpose of sharing Jesus.