BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURIZIO MINGARDI – President and Pastor
In 1972, Dr. Maurizio Mingardi had a supernatural encounter. God transported him to the Garden of Eden and downloaded into his heart truths about His Love and Power that changed his life. From an atheist, scientist doing research in Spectroscopy and Quantum Mechanics, Maurizio became a believer and a disciple of Jesus Christ. He resigned from his job at the National Research Council and began his spiritual journey.
In 1974, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Soon after, he was appointed Vice-President of the Ottawa Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship. In 1983, he started Mount Zion – Church of the Firstborn in Ottawa, Ontario, with his wife, Carol. She helped Maurizio in the ministry until she went to the Lord in 1995. In 2001, Maurizio married Liliane, now ministering in the Worship Team and the Children’s Ministry.
Maurizio has been in the ministry for over 50 years. He received ordination from the Evangelical Church Alliance Ministerial Fellowship of Canada (ECAMFC) and has filled executive positions in public service and religious organizations. In 2014, he was elected President of ECAMFC. In 2018, he chose to withdraw from that position to focus on his ministry at Mount Zion – Church of the Firstborn.
Maurizio’s goal is to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom. He believes that Jesus’ ministry has not changed. God still wants to save the world and heal and set free all those who are sick and oppressed. The Holy Spirit works signs and wonders through believers now, just as He did in the book of Acts. Maurizio demonstrates this truth in his ministry and helps other believers to fulfill their call and develop their relationship with God, faith, and spiritual gifts.
Maurizio has two children, Stellina and Paul, and six grandchildren, Isabella, Alexander, Quinn, Devin, Kyla, and Cade, from his marriage to Carol.
ANDREW THUSWALDNER – Vice-President and Secretary
Andrew received Jesus as his Lord and Saviour in 1982, after several years of the Lord putting many Christians in his path, including Cindy, his wife, for 41 years. Andrew has been part of the Mount Zion fellowship since its humble beginnings and has served as secretary to the board of directors since the early 1990s.
Andrew feels strongly connected with Mount Zion’s leadership and congregation and wants to serve in whatever capacity the Lord leads him. “If you long for a closer relationship with God and want to join a congregation where Christ is supreme and there is an uncompromising respect for the Word of God, I can think of no better place than Mount Zion Church of the Firstborn.”
TED MOYES – Treasurer
Ted came to the Lord in 1982. Years of deep depression, alcohol, and drug abuse led him to a nervous breakdown and admission to the psychiatric ward of Kingston General Hospital.
Ted was skeptical about God and desperate for meaning in life. This is when a Christian friend challenged him to read the New Testament, asking the Lord to reveal Himself. While reading 1 Corinthians 10:4, Ted felt the Lord saying He wanted to be the Rock of his life and that by giving his life to Him, He would heal his mind.
Ted still cannot explain how it happened, but when he said YES to the Lord, he knew he was instantly healed. Ted got out of the hospital the next day and has never again taken antidepressants or seen another psychiatrist.
The Lord has blessed Ted in many ways, including giving him four children and seven grandchildren and protecting him from several car accidents.
Ted serves as the church treasurer.
RITA CARDARELLI
Rita Cardarelli was a founding member of Mount Zion–Church of the Firstborn. In 2013, she started serving as Director of Children’s Ministry.
Rita has been blessed with abundant life in the Lord since 1981. She has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, curriculum consultant, and elementary school principal.
Relying on the Lord for wisdom, direction, and organizational skills, Rita helps us plan and manage our church administration as Director of Policy and Human Resources.
VICTOR DEVEAU
Victor and his family started coming to Mount Zion – Church of the Firstborn over 20 years ago. Since then, Victor’s relationship with the Lord has grown deeper, and his faith has grown stronger because of the truth of the Word taught here. He has received many blessings and healings over the years.
Victor’s role in the church is to oversee the operation and maintenance of the facility.
His favorite scripture is Philippians 1.6.
MALCOM WITHAM
Malcom (Mac) grew up going to church, Sunday school, and daily vacation Bible school. After high school, he focused on higher studies with the desire to become more successful. Although there were high rewards in that professional journey, there were also unexpected lows due to a lack of foresight, for Mac had abandoned his faith for worldly influence.
Through the effective witness of Christian leadership in a part-time business, he became aware that God was in charge of the direction of his life. In 1983, Mac was born again at a business weekend Sunday service in the USA. He came directly home and took his wife and three children to a local Bible-believing church.
Mac found life-saving, life-changing teachings from each of the churches in which he has served. After the passing of his beloved father and mother in 2015, he and his wife Marilyn found themselves called out. Not knowing where the Holy Spirit wanted them to go, they stepped out to visit several services. It was the advice of close friends in the music ministry who recommended Mount Zion – Church of the Firstborn. A decade later, Mac is still fired up about the depth of the teaching here and even more grateful for the Holy Spirit, who always guides us toward our best destination.