STAFF
Todd Petkau
LEAD PASTOR
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Todd grew up in Regina, attended Capernwray, BC, and graduated from Winnipeg Bible College. After youth pastoring for 8 years, Todd and Carolyn helped launch Riverwood in 1995. He is passionate about his marriage, family of three beautiful daughters, fixing up things people throw away, and watching God restore lives as only God can!
SENIOR LEADERS
Todd Petkau
Jon Courtney
LEAD PASTOR
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COMMUNITY PASTOR
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Carolyn Petkau
CONGREGATIONAL
CARE PASTOR
Jennifer Haaksma
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Ben Neufeld
WORSHIP PASTOR
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Jennifer Haaksma
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
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Jennifer was thrilled to join our staff in 2020 after having called Riverwood home since 2001. She is energized by providing behind the scenes support so that our staff team can flourish as they carry out the work that God has called them to. Jennifer and her husband have two teenage boys. Away from work she enjoys baking, reading and spending time outdoors.
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Adrienne Hyde-Sawatsky
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT & PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR
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Irene Derksen
FINANCES
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Irene has been attending Riverwood for almost 8 years and joined the staff as bookkeeper 2 years ago. She also serves on the e-visuals team at the Warehouse. Irene is married to Rudy, they have 3 daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and 2 grandsons. In her spare time, Irene loves to quilt and spend time working in her yard during the summer.
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Rhoda Neufeld
RECEPTIONIST
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Rhoda and her husband Karl have been part of Riverwood since 2011. They have 3 sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and 5 beautiful grandchildren. Rhoda loves connecting with people and seeing how God is at work in the community and in our church.
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Nedlie Lindor
ACCOUNTANT
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Wife and mother of two girls, Nedlie and her family are originally from Haiti. It didn't take her long to find her place within the Riverwood Family in 2024, not only in serving the community but also by joining the staff. She enjoys family time, interactive activities, movies, crafts and event decorating.
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Oleh Korzhov
TECHNICAL SERVICES COORDINATOR
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ADMINISTRATION
Carolyn Petkau
CONGREGATIONAL
CARE PASTOR
Carolyn has been part of Riverwood since its beginning and joined the staff team in 2003. She has a degree from Winnipeg Bible College (now Providence College) and is passionate about pastoring people in faith, through hard times, and in marriage! She loves being married to Todd and adores her 3 daughters and 3 sons-in-law.​
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Dunstan Gomes
SMALL GROUP + DISCIPLESHIP PASTOR
Dunstan joined our team in 2021 after serving in different Pastoral capacities since 2003. He came across Riverwood Church Community online, fell in love with what God was doing, and desired to be part of this community. The rest is the beginning of a new journey. Dunstan is passionate about helping people grow their faith in Jesus and build lifelong relationships in the body of Christ. He is married to Jessica, and together they have three incredible children.
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Christy Litkowich
CONNECTIONS + SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR
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ADULT
MINISTRIES
Brittany Petkau
YOUTH + YOUNG ADULTS PASTOR
Brittany has been a part of Riverwood since its beginning in 1995. She has a Bachelor of Theology and is passionate about seeing young people grow head-over-heels in love with God and use their gifts to serve Him. Brittany loves biking, reading, and anything that involves hanging out in the city.​
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Rhythm Knowler
MIDDLE SCHOOL MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Rhythm is a true Winnipeg girl! For most of her life she’s called Winnipeg home except for the years where she attended Bible College in Saskatchewan and started her family and ministry career in Alberta. In 2020, her family felt called by God to relocate back to her roots. She loves volleyball, helping people feel known and loved, and all things Riverwood!
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YOUTH +
YOUNG ADULTS
Debbie Friesen
FACTORY DIRECTOR
Debbie along with her daughter started attending Riverwood in 2008 after returning from Uganda. She had been serving in Riverwood Kids for 10 years before joining on staff. She is passionate about building relationships with children and helping them see that they are loved by the Father who created them. She enjoys music, singing, and reading.
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Lydia Brunelle
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY DIRECTOR
Lydia was born and raised in Southern California, but with some family in Winnipeg, she visited quite often. She moved to Winnipeg in 2022 when she joined the staff team here at Riverwood. She graduated from Life Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Ministry and Leadership. Lydia loves playing sports, playing board games, and going to the movies.
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Brenda McAdam
FIREHALL KIDS COORDINATOR
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RIVERWOOD
KIDS
Jon Courtney
COMMUNITY PASTOR
Jon has been part of Riverwood since it began. His wife Kelly and him have 4 children. He is driven by the idea that the local church should have a tangible and practical impact on the needs of the neighbourhood as we follow the way of Jesus with compassion, generosity, and the pursuit of justice.
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Jen Gill
NEIGHBOURHOOD PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Jen has been working in the Elmwood Neighbourhood for the past 15 years. In her role as Neighbourhood Program Director, she strives to create a safe space where all can experience support, love, and acceptance.
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Ingrid Neufeld
NEIGHBOURHOOD FOOD PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR
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NEIGHBOURHOOD
Ben Neufeld
WORSHIP PASTOR
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Ben joined the team in 2010 and has enjoyed creating music with the dozens of excellent musicians across Riverwood’s multiple locations. Ben and his wife, Ingrid, along with their five children enjoy biking, swimming, hiking, traveling, the outdoors, and all forms of shrubbery.
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Khel De Castro
ASSISTANT WORSHIP LEADER
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Khel was born and raised in Winnipeg and attended Providence College. He worked as a youth pastor for 7 years serving the Filipino community in the city. He is also married and the father of two children. In his spare time loves to tinker with his radio-controlled trucks
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Merci Cyifuzo
MUSIC COORDINATOR
AFRICAN WORSHIP COMMUNITY
Merci joined the Riverwood team in 2019. Over the years he has developed his passion for worship and music as a whole, learning along the way as he played and worshiped with different congregations across the city. Merci enjoys traveling with friends, spending time with his 7 nieces and nephews, and producing music for local artists of all genres while seeking an opportunity to minister through music.
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WORSHIP
Angelina Gomes
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Angelina has served as our creative director at Riverwood for over two years. Her background spans diverse disciplines, including studies in Religion & Theology and Sociology/Social Work, followed by a career transition into Fashion and Corporate Communications. Her creative ethos echoes the words of the late professor Cromwell from the Bahamas: "Don’t settle for the better, but settle for the difference." Angelina is driven by a desire to infuse designs with the message of Christ, enhancing the experience of our community and church attendees during our services.
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Jacob Braun
VIDEOGRAPHER + BROADCAST COORDINATOR
Jacob has been a part of Riverwood since 2018 and joined the staff in 2021. He is passionate about creativity, storytelling, and continually learning new skills. He is also involved with The Ascent, Uprising, and the worship team, using media and music to connect with others and share Riverwood’s mission.
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Imoleayo Toludare
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Imoleayo joined Riverwood in 2021. She is a creative, easygoing, and interesting graphics designer (Industrial Designer) with a Master's in Project Management. She is committed to working for God in the church and community, with a passion to help people, making them feel good about themselves, and discover and explore their God-given talents.
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PRODUCTION
SITE
PASTORS
Karl + Rhoda Neufeld
WAREHOUSE SITE PASTORS
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Rhoda and Karl met at Columbia Bible Institute in Clearbrook, BC. They married after finishing Bible School, and have lived in Winnipeg since then, working, serving in church ministries, and have 3 sons, a beautiful daughter-in-law. and 5 wonderful grandchildren. They have been on staff as Warehouse site pastors since 2016.
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Brock + Lori Groening
FIREHALL SITE PASTORS
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Brock and Lori have attended Riverwood Church since 2006. They were married in 2008 and have 3 precious children Bennett, Tenley, and Sadie. Brock works full-time as the Director of Facility Operations at Youth For Christ and Lori works part-time as an Ophthalmic Assistant.
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Richard Mufaridji
AFRICAN WORSHIP COMMUNITY
SITE PASTOR
Pastor Richard (Rick) is our Site Pastor for the African Worship Community. His life is dedicated to living by example and encouraging God's People to live up to their full potential in Jesus Christ. Pastor Rick and his wife Jeanne are the proud parents of three children. They are so happy to be part of the Riverwood church family!
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Terry Hiebert
FACILITY DIRECTOR
Terry and his wife Jane have been attending Riverwood since December 2017. He and his family worked at YFC Camp Cedarwood for 10 years and his main role there was caring for the building and grounds as the the Property Manager. Following that Terry worked at CMU for 18 years starting as a maintenance tech leading into being the Director of Maintenance for the last 8 years of working there. Terry has an eye for detail and looking forward to making sure all the Riverwood facilities are taken care of.
In his spare time Terry enjoys doing landscape photography, riding both his motorcycle and mountain bike.
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Tamara Morrisseau
CUSTODIAN
Tamara joined the Riverwood team in 2022. She has been involved in our Neighbourhood programs since she was a very young child and is happy to be working somewhere that has been such a big part of her life.
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Carol Nyquest
CUSTODIAN
Carol has been volunteering at Riverwood since the very beginning - helping out at the food bank, at the second-hand store, folding bulletins, and attending services. She's been on staff since 2010! She has a beautiful daughter and one son and two grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to go camping, walking, biking, and helping others!
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Mark Huska
CUSTODIAN
Mark has been a part of our custodial team since 2019. Coming from many years in the hospitality industry, he has a passion for making sure that spaces are welcoming and ready to support people as they encounter Jesus.
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