Bernie was born into a military family in 1963. Bernie’s father was a fighter pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force. As a result of that Bernie lived in Canada and in Germany. When Bernie was 10 years old, his father retired from the RCAF, and the family moved to New Brunswick.
In 1989, Bernie completed his undergraduate studies at the University of New Brunswick and received a degree in Philosophy. From there Bernie completed his Master’s degree at the University of Toronto and received his M.Div. in 1992. A diploma of theology was completed at Knox College at this time as well.
Bernie had an encounter with the risen Lord when he was eleven, when the Lord called him to preach the Gospel. While completing his studies, Bernie was a student minister in the Bruce Peninsula for 3 years. He then pastored in Blenheim, Ontario for 6 years. Bernie was ordained in October 1995, while in Blenheim. In April of 1998, Bernie was called to pastor Knox Presbyterian Church in Welland, Ontario. Knox became Hope Community Church in 2018. Bernie pastored at Knox/Hope for 22 years. When the Presbyterian Church in Canada drifted from Orthodoxy, Bernie resigned his pastorate and became the discipleship Pastor at Rice Road Community Church in Welland. There he pastored for a little over 3 years. In 2024 Bernie became a Biblical counselor at South Niagara Life Ministries. In December, 2025 Bernie assumed the role of full time pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Stevensville.
His passion in ministry is all things relating to prayer, discipleship, and disciple making. He not only enjoys teaching all of these but also mentoring and equipping other believers to do the same. Bernie’s personal mission statement is: “To know Him and to make Him known”. Bernie’s personal interests are reading (history), art, music (he plays the guitar), and writing. Bernie is married to an amazing, gifted Christian woman, Marilyn. They have been married for 9 years. They share a passion for the Lord, prayer, prayer ministry and sharing Jesus with others. They also have a passion for travel and enjoying the life the Lord has provided for them. They also have three cats (Chay, Tia and Soda).
Bernie and Marilyn sum up the Christian life that they seek to model everyday with the words: surrender and obedience.