About Us
Highland Park
Wesleyan Church, located in the Westboro area of the city of Ottawa, has a rich history. It was built in 1913 as a Baptist
church. In 1957, it was purchased by the Standard Church denomination which began the Highland Park congregation. When the
Standard Church merged with the Wesleyan Church in 2003, the church took on its current name: Highland Park Wesleyan Church.
Today, we continue to grow as a church family in our walk with the Lord and in our ministry to the community and world around us.
Church Staff
Paul Kern - Senior Pastor
Paul Kern is the senior pastor of Highland Park Wesleyan Church. With the support of his wife Heather, he pastors and
oversees all areas of the church life. Paul and Heather met in Bible college and have been working together in the full-time
pastoral ministry since 1996. They have two children (Charis and Caleb) and one dachshund (Clive).
Paul holds a BTh from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, an MDiv from Tyndale Seminary, and has taught as a professor at a School of Theology in Cuba. Paul's philosophy of ministry is easily expressed as having the vision to see Disciples making Disciples. Paul believes pastors (and all Christians) need to return to a fidelity in prayer, Biblical study/preaching, and spiritual direction. Paul's desire is to see a church united in discipleship, spiritual formation and missions.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16)
Timo Jaakkimainen - Worship Leader
Timo Jaakkimainen is the worship leader of Highland Park Wesleyan Church. Timo has served over fifteen years in
various worship leadering roles. His experience ranges from leadership of youth worship events to performing
in a semi-professional independent worship band to itinerant worship ministry. Timo is an emerging songwriter with songs
"Come Before The Lord", "Run Free" and "Revive Me" being received favourably in the local community. Besides
songwriting, he has also done some teaching and training on worship, both to worship team members as well as
congregations at large. He has a heart to mentor worship leaders and musicians and feels a current calling to
encourage worshippers in intimate worship and creative expression.
In his regular weekday job, Timo works as a developer and technical architect for an IT consulting firm in the Ottawa area. He is married to his beautiful wife Leah and they are raising their daughter Isabel.