Personal Email: paetkaujl@gmail.com
Work Email: jpaetkau@send.org
Mobile: 403 519 3210
Facebook/Instagram: John Paetkau
Give Online: Canada: send.org/canada/give-from-canada
USA: send.org/give/missionaries/paetkau
John: I grew up in a Christian family in northern Alberta, and became a Christian at a young age. God really got a hold of my life when I was 18, and I was called into ministry at that time. I planned on becoming a youth pastor, to reach the young people of Canada with the Gospel. During my second year at Briercrest, God called me overseas through the testimony of an old missionary from Spain. 11 years later on December 4, 1997, after serving as an associate pastor for 7 years Leanne, our two little daughters and I got on a plane and flew to Ukraine. We served there for 17 years and returned in 2014 with our three children to transition them into their next stage of life.
Leanne: I was born in Swift Current, Sk into a pastor’s family and received Jesus as my Saviour at the age of 5. After high school I went to Briercrest Bible College for 4 years. Here I met John which was a wonderful blessing and he became my husband after graduation. I was also introduced to missions at Briercrest in my first year when a missionary guest speaker came to speak he challenged us with the biblical account of Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water. Peter faced his fears, likewise I was challenged to get out of the boat and confront whatever fear I had. At the time my greatest fear was that if I gave my all to the Lord he would send me to Africa, which I found frightening because of course, Africa has snakes and spiders. John and I got married and we ended up serving the Lord in a local church doing ministry for 7 years, not only to gain experience but also to pay off our student loans. John and I were excited to be able to receive a call to serve in Ukraine, and we were there for 17 years serving and raising our family.
Together we served the alongside Ukrainian believers in northeastern Ukraine, mentoring and training leaders, doing discipleship, helping them with children and youth ministry, camp work, and doing evangelism through friendships in our community. By 2013 we could see that we were becoming “the grandparents of our ministries” as we had trained up new leaders to take our place. Thus we exited out and eventually moved back to Canada hoping to transition our kids and someday move back overseas to where God was calling us next, to do whatever was next. We are still involved in ministry in Ukraine through various means (prior to the escalation of the war in 2022 we would lead a team to minister each summer there) and now from we serve from afar.
Our Current Role at SEND:
John - serves as a western Canada Missions Coach and representative for SEND in MB, SK, AB & BC. This entails the following in all four provinces: connecting with those who are inquiring re missions; visiting & speaking at bible schools; representing SEND and speaking at churches and conferences; coaching and facilitating new missionaries who are preparing to go the field; and facilitating short term teams and individuals.
Leanne - has two primary roles. Works part time as a home care professional and serves alongside John in the above roles as able. She also serves in ministry to women in both a face to face and online context.
About SEND:
SEND International is a international mission with members from 12+ passport countries serving in 21+ countries around the world. SEND seeks to plant the church where it doesn’t exist and serve it where it does, with a special focus on least reached peoples. Our focus is church planting and discipleship, using a variety of ministry platforms depending on the culture, the needs, the opportunities and the location.