Our Founding Director:
The Reverend Brian Parker is a retired Anglican priest. He continues to serve the Diocese of Toronto as a priest in good standing. Until recently, he served as the honourary associate in Emmanuel Church, Richvale, north of Toronto but a recent move to a new community has made his retirement from this post necessary. Throughout his varied career he has held a deep love and concern for the Jewish People and for Israel, as well as for the "Body of Messiah" - the Church.
After marrying Joan in 1966, Brian worked in industry for a brief stint before returning to school and attending Lakeshore Teacher's College, where he received his permanent teaching certificate. This was augmented by a General B.A in Psychology, earned over a period of seven years, through off-campus studies provided by Wilfrid Laurier University. Brian taught in the elementary level for the Simcoe County Board of Education for 14 years, specializing in the area of Fine Arts. Of course he taught all the basic subjects as well. He estimates that some 420 students, from grades 4 through 8 would have sat under his tutelage, as well as a few hundred others who would have experienced his art classes and other subjects on rotary.
In 1984, he left the field of teaching to enter Wycliffe College, (U of T) in Toronto. After 3 years of intense Biblical, Theological, and Practical Studies in seminary there, he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree and began to serve congregations in the Toronto area. He pastored in Mississauga, Minden-Kinmount and East Toronto in both single and multi-point church settings, gaining experience in all sorts of settings and situations. While in the Parish of Minden-Kinmount, he arranged and established the Minden-Wycliffe "off-campus" College, which served local and summer students of the Bible with in-depth examinations of various themes, and which continued for some years after his departure. Brian was also involved in the renewal movement within the church for a number of years, gaining valuable insight into the work of the Holy Spirit, and the role of Music in re-establishing our connections with both Y'shua (Jesus) and with G-d. Brian ministered in these settings for a little over 18 years.
Throughout his life, but increasingly in the years within ordained ministry, Brian fostered a deep devotion for the Jewish roots of our faith. "I have always particularly loved preaching from the Older Covenant because it is so rich in its heritage and because we can see how so many of the prophetic passages have been fulfilled in Y'shua's ministry" he reported in one interview.
While in seminary, he and Joan made their first trip to Israel. It was an amazing experience, unequalled by any other travel or activity. It was both life-changing and life-fulfilling. While there, Brian experienced first hand many insights which have enriched his Biblical understanding and teaching.
In 2004, his interest in the connections between Judaism (including in particular, the practices of the Jewish faith community with respect to the Festivals) and Christianity came to a climax. He had earlier become aware of the link between Pesach (Passover) and the Christian festivals of Holy Week and so, after encountering some special teaching through a guest speaker in his parish at the time, Brian 'naturally' began to feel the "call" to something beyond the familiar thinking and understanding of his faith.
In 2005, he left the Diocese of Toronto with the blessing of his bishop, and became involved in Messianic ministry. He studied in a Messianic Yeshiva and served as the congregational leader of a Messianic community. This was a rich addition to his 18 years of Church ministry, and his learning in seminary. New understandings of both the Older and Newer Covenants came out of his learning here. Deep, heartfelt passions for both seekers and believers began to stir within him. During this time, Brian also gained experience in teaching about various themes from a Messianic viewpoint. He has taught in Anglican, Baptist, Chinese Mennonite (English Language), Pentecostal and non-denominational settings on behalf of the ministry for which he worked. Furthermore, while involved in that Messianic Community in Toronto, Brian was privileged to make a second trip to Israel, this time concentrating on the Jewish Roots, archeology, historical and Biblical settings as well as experiencing with a new comprehension, the political tensions of H'Aretz (the Land).
In August of 2007, new rumblings began to stir. The passage from Jeremiah (1:4,5) noted on the ministry's "Who We Are page had always been important to Brian. Initially, the words of the prophet had spoken to him while in seminary, offering G-d's assurance of the call which he had felt upon his heart. With the shift to Messianic ministry, the vision was temporarily set aside until the passage was read one day in a church service Brian was attending. Now, however, it was the second phrase of the promise which stood out. "I have called you to be a prophet to the "Goyim", (the Nations). This now meant so much more. Brian realized a new vocation was being placed upon his life - to go to those outside the Jewish / Messianic community and share what he had learned and experienced, and continues to learn every day.
As a result, in October of 2007, he left the employ of the Messianic ministry, and established a new resource.... "Beth Roay Tov Ministries". For more information on just some of the areas of interest BRT can share with your community / group, please check our "Educational Themes" page.
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Update:
As of March, 2013, Brian and Joan, his wife of 46+ years, have returned to their favourite area, and are living in Minden, Ontario. They have two grown children, of whom they are immensely proud, a daughter who has returned from studying in LA and lives in Southern Ontario, and a son who is married and lives with his wife and two children in Central Ontario. To their grandchildren Brian and Joan are known as "Zaidy and Honey".
Most recently, Brian has extended his teaching experience in a local Associated Gospel Community, where he has lead a weekly Torah Study and often provides the Message in the weekly church gatherings.
