About Rev. Marc Lapointe

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Marc was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario.  Marc was the last of twenty-seven grand-children born into the Lapointe Family.  At two months of age, he was baptized in the school because the French Roman Catholic Church was still under construction.  Learning to speak English at a young age Marc was fluent in both languages by the time he started school.   

Marc’s father was a World War 2 veteran who faithfully attended church when Marc was young.  As time passed, his father attended less frequently.  Marc continued to regularly attend church with his mother until High School when he left the church all together.   

Being a hobbyist by nature and a lover of science Marc was enamoured by electronics while in High School.  After graduation he entered a technology program at the local college, graduating in three years.  It was the beginning of the commercial electronic revolution which would change our world.  He worked fifteen years in the field of Electronics Manufacturing and Special Processes in Ottawa before returning to full time school in 1996.  

It was shortly after entering the field of electronics that Marc met his wife and partner of thirty-five years.  Together they now enjoy God’s gifts of three adult children and seven grand-children.  Mary was the catalyst that introduced Marc to the Lutheran Church where he became involved in everything from property to Sunday School.   

Marc was involved with the National Youth Global Hunger and Economic Justice Seminar hosted by their church, St Peter’s Lutheran, Ottawa in 1982.  In 1984, Marc was asked to chaperon six youth to the Youth Leadership Training Event in Orangeville where Jesus appeared to Marc in a new and personal way.  Marc was also involved in the organizing of youth events and the two Ottawa “March for Jesus” events.  

Ten years later, Marc applied and was accepted to start seminary in Waterloo but God closed that door.  Unable to make the move financially and an unexpected family concern Marc remained in Ottawa where he completed a course in Biblical Hebrew.  It was during that time that Mary and Marc began exploring their relationship with Jesus and ended up meeting Rev Irvin Dexel who retired shortly after they joined All Saint’s Lutheran church.   

Two years later, Marc would travel to Stoney Plains, Alberta for his church in order to learn about the Holy Spirit Event and help organize one for All Saint’s in Ottawa.  That summer Marc and Mary both resigned from their work, placed their belonging into storage and made the 4000 Km trek to the University of Saskatchewan where Marc would apply to study at the Lutheran Seminary in Saskatoon.  They had no idea where they would live or how they would manage financially except for the parting words of their pastor – “go in faith, trust in the Lord.”  Unknown to Marc and Mary their good Christian friends were also moving to Saskatoon that summer.  

Marc graduated after four years, debt free.  The university evaluated his credentials and granted him an honorary Bachelorette allowing him to pursue studies in a Master in Divinity program.  Marc ended up taking one extra course at seminary (Biblical Greek), because the academic dean (who was German and the Hebrew professor) did not like the French slant Marc had on his Hebrew pronunciations.  As it happens, having both languages is a blessing, as Marc hopes to one day continue his studies towards a Doctor of Theology and possibly write some books on Faith and Life.   

Marc completed his Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Ottawa at the Queensway Carleton Hospital and completed a one year internship at St Philip’s in Toronto under Rev Doug Kramer.  He graduated and was ordained by Bishop (retired) Bill Huras in 2000 at All Saints Lutheran Church, Ottawa, on the heels of the celebration of the fiftieth year of ordination of a wonderful pastor and mentor – Rev Bill Riekert (from Saskatchewan).  Marc is also thankful for the influence of Rev Gene Grant whom he first met while working at Luther Sunset Towers in Saskatoon.   

Marc’s first call was to a three point Parish of Rose Valley, Saskatchewan.  In 2002, the opportunity to return to Ontario presented itself and he accepted a call to the two point Maynooth/Raglan parish.  During that time he served the Synod Conference as secretary/treasurer and was the Registrar for the synod youth event “Go Deep.”  Marc and Mary also participated in a weekend Billy Graham School of Evangelism in Mount Trembland, Quebec.  Marc served the parish for five years before accepting a call to Christ the Redeemer in Dollard-des-Ormeaux (Montreal).   

Because of unforeseen problems, Marc resigned his call and was unemployed for over a year.  They were graciously invited to live rent free with their Christian niece and nephew in Gatineau.   

In 2010, a year after first hearing about it, God called Marc to the two point parish of Journeys, Grande Prairie and Christ, Sexsmith.  Marc resigned from the roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and joined the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC).  After two years, Journeys (house church) and Christ joined together to worship at the church in Sexsmith.  The church experienced minimal growth during that time and after four years of operating in a deficit, they all began praying for direction from God.  

During that time, Marc sought and was rostered with the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) and the Lutheran Church in Mission for Christ (LCMC) in order to open the door to more pastoral resources and potential calls.  After three years of waiting on God (and many interviews) God opened the door in November 2017 and Marc received a call to St Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Kamloops.  

In December 2017 Mary and Marc celebrated their eighth Christmas with their church family in Sexsmith, as they prepared to leave and make the winter trek across the mountains to Kamloops, BC in early January 2018.   

The journey which the Lord Jesus Christ personally invited Marc to follow back in 1984, continues from here.