WHO WE ARE
BLF Canada was founded in 2001 with a simple but significant vision: to reach the French-speaking world with trustworthy Christian literature. In many Francophone communities, pastors and churches lack access to basic biblical study tools and discipleship resources. We exist to help meet that need.
Through partnerships in Quebec, Haiti, and beyond, BLF Canada provides resources that support evangelism, equip pastors, and strengthen local churches. Whether distributing Bible study resources, supporting ministry initiatives, or sending short-term teams, our mission remains the same — to glorify God by equipping the French-speaking church with solid, Christ-centered teaching.
CORE VALUES
Commitment to God
We commit to be living sacrifices to God our Father; our minds and hearts focused on Jesus Christ our Lord; being empowered by the Holy Spirit; guided by the Word of God and nourished by prayer and supplication.
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Commitment to Ministry
We commit to demonstrate our passion for the spiritually lost and to discipling followers of Christ by providing quality evangelistic, educational, and exhortational Christian literature and related materials.
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Commitment to Partnership
We commit to build Christian partnerships with like-minded and biblically based churches and ministries in order to encourage and support mission awareness, needs, and participation.
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Commitment to Others
We commit to being a community of Christ’s servants who strive to bear the fruit of the Spirit, bearing up one another in love.
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Commitment to Stewardship
We commit to conduct our business affairs by first seeking godly counsel and wisdom, and to execute our fiduciary duties and responsibilities with the highest degree of integrity.
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BLF Canada is a member of the Christian Centre for Christian Charities
STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe that the Bible, consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is the inspired Word of God. It was written by holy men of God who were moved by the Holy Spirit. It is inerrant in the original writings and is the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
The Bible
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal.
God
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His substitutionary death on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension into heaven, and His future personal return in power and glory.
Jesus Christ
We believe that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He regenerates, indwells, seals, sanctifies, and empowers all who believe in Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit
We believe that all people are sinners by nature and by choice and are therefore under condemnation. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. It is not by works. All who receive Him by faith are born again and become children of God.
Humanity & Salvation
We believe that the universal Church is composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ. We believe in the local church as a gathered community of believers for worship, fellowship, discipleship, and evangelism.
The Church
OUR PARTNERS
OUR STAFF
Toe-Blake Roy
Executive Director
Toe-Blake is the director of BLF Canada since 2006 and serves in the province of Quebec with his wife Linda since 1994. Toe-Blake holds a B.R.E.; M.Div.; M.Th.; M.A. in Administration and M.A. in higher Education.
Zachariah Kenney
Director’s Assistant
Zak is on staff with BLF Canada as well as being a missionary. He serves as the treasurer and board secretary for BLF Canada. Zak holds a B.A. in Biblical Studies and M.A. in Biblical Languages Exegesis.
Shirley Plett
Bookkeeper
Shirley Plett is the bookkeeper for BLF Canada's head office in Manitoba. She is retired, after working as an Administrative Assistant in the postsecondary education sector for many years.
OUR BOARD MEMBERS
Ron Plett
Chairman of the Board
Ron Plett is the current Chairman of the Board. He is a retired farmer in Southern Manitoba. Ron served as a School Trustee in the Hanover School Division. He has experience as a Youth Leader, Sunday School teacher, and Sunday School Superintendent, and has served on the Mission Committee at the EMC church in Landmark, Manitoba.
Mark Larson
Board Member
Mark Larson has served as a language teacher over four decades, beginning as a Hausa instructor to missionaries in West Africa. After settling in Grande Prairie, Alberta, in 2001, he taught ESL to adults, and more recently French to younger students. Mark has served on Bible Camp and local church boards. His wife, Immie, teaches at the nearby Christian school. We look forward to summers of gardening and hanging out with our grandchildren.
Jolyn Sawatzky
Board Member
Jolyn Sawatzky is a psychotherapist specializing in couples counselling and intergenerational relationships. She is actively involved in her home church in Lorette, MB. Jolyn enjoys her hobby of learning French, and has spent numerous weeks in both France and Quebec immersing herself in the language; her favourite devotional approach is to read the Bible in French. Jolyn and her husband Alfred live in Grande Pointe, MB.
Eric Perron
Board Member
Eric is from Quebec City and is serving as the director of Aujourd’hui l’Espoir which is a multimedia ministry providing audio and video resources for the Francophone world. Eric has served in this ministry for many years with his wife Annabelle.
Costas Yphantides
Board Member
Costas Yphantides is a faithful member of his church in Winnipeg. Costas is a founding member of BLF Canada and for many years he has been instrumental in the development of the ministry to French speaking people in Canada and in the world.
Arisnel Mesidor
Board Member
Arisnel Mesidor is originally from Haiti. He came to Canada in 2004 as an international student. He has a B.A. in Christian Ministry and a M.A. in Theology. He is married to Syvelie Mesidor Vaneus, and, together, they have two children, Joshua and Medjine. He works as a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) and is the owner/operator of Mesidor Immigration located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He considers himself blessed to be part of the BLF Canada board.
Natalie Giesbrecht
Board Member
Natalie is a wife and mother. Born and raised in Quebec, she now lives near Winnipeg and loves being a homemaker. She is passionate about helping people and growing God's Kingdom. In 2019, she graduated with a Master of Arts in Psychotherapy from Providence University and Theological Seminary. She and her husband Harold are missionaries and serve with One Hope Canada. She joined the BLF board in 2025. She also recently has been involved with voicing French audio Bible stories and making them available for francophones globally.
