Meet Our Pastors

We are pleased to introduce you to our pastors. Each of those on our pastoral team brings differing yet complementary skills and personalities to the team. We are thankful to the Lord for each of these men and their families.

Jeremy Heikkinen

Lead Pastor
Pastor Jeremy and his wife Jessi were married in 2009 and are blessed by God with three children. Pastor Jeremy earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies having attended the Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake NY, Jerusalem University in Israel, and Cairn University in Philadelphia. In addition, Pastor Jeremy is a certified Biblical Counselor with the Association of Biblical Counselors. He has finished his Master’s Degree in Biblical Counseling through Faith Seminary in Indiana. Central has been richly blessed to have Pastor Jeremy and Jessi minister among us in counselling and serving our children, youth, and young families towards a life based on scripture. As of October 2020, he is the Lead Pastor of Central. Pastor Jeremy also loves playing music, working out, coaching basketball, or enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Pastor Alan & Helen Rietberg

Alan Rietberg

Associate Pastor

Pastor Alan and his wife Helen were married in 1974. They have two adult sons, Josh and Jon, and are blessed with 4 grandchildren.

Pastor Alan graduated from Radio Broadcasting and Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto. After returning from a missions trip with Sudan Interior Mission, Pastor Alan served as Youth Pastor at Temple Baptist Church in Cambridge, Senior Pastor at Shenstone Baptist Church in Brantford, and now is a vital part of our Pastoral Team at Central Baptist Church Brantford.

Pastor Alan and Helen minister to the seniors through MAJORS, an opportunity for seniors to come and socialize, to hear a speaker, and enjoy a catered luncheon together.

Pastor Alan also visits and prays with the sick in hospital and shut-ins in their homes and seniors residences. He is also a great communicator of all the events and activities around Central.

At heart, Pastor Alan is an evangelist who dedicates his life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pastoral Intern Lars & Sarah Janssen

Lars Janssen

Associate Pastor

Lars and his wife Sarah were married at Central Baptist Church in 2006. They have four children: Leilah, Gideon, Elorah, and Amos, who all have graduated or are attending Central Baptist Academy.

Lars has been a member of Central since he was 16 years old and has served in the church in various capacities: sound and media volunteer, a Sunday School teacher for both youth and college & careers, and Deacon.

Over the past couple of years, God allowed a desire to grow in Lars’ heart to minister to God’s people as a pastor. In September 2019, Lars, a former Tool and Die Maker took on the role of Pastoral Intern. In April 2021, he joined the pastoral staff officially as an Associate Pastor. He is also currently enrolled in a Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies at Heritage Seminary in Cambridge.

Lars & Sarah and the family look forward to what God will do in their lives in the years ahead at Central!