Pastor Joel Coppieters, B.Th., M.Div.

Joel was born and raised in Quebec’s Eastern Townships in a ministry home where he learned that God’s people and God’s Word were the two things of greatest value – and he is still staunchly committed to both.

Published and preaching by the time he was 15, Joel went on to develop a business career and a small consulting practice that allowed him to serve in Bible teaching and administrative posts with several churches and a number of para-church ministries including Scripture Union and the United Bible Societies.

After a series of personal tragedies shook his faith, God pulled Joel through a season of atheism and into the Reformed tradition where he now serves as Minister of Côte-des-Neiges Presbyterian Church – a growing urban congregation, that is wrestling with and learning what it means to make the love of God relevant to one of the neediest areas in Canada.

Joel’s published credits include several books in English and French, and more than 700 articles in magazines and newspapers about a variety of religious and secular topics. He completed the Bachelor’s degree in Theology at McGill at the top of the class on the Dean’s Honour List, and the Master of Divinity with distinction at Presbyterian College in Montreal, where he also received the Calvin Medal.

Together with his wife Debbie, a kindergarten teacher, they take great joy in several grown foster children and two granddaughters. Their hobbies include renovating homes.