Our Story & Team

Our Story
Things happen because people pray.
Not surprisingly, there were people praying for a Christian school in Swift Current long before there was a Christian school in Swift Current. They were an assortment of individuals – different ages, backgrounds, denominations, and interests. But they all had the same thing on their hearts: an education for their children that puts Jesus front and centre.
Trudi Banman and Pastor Curtis Cave had been hosting homeschooled children at Alpine Church of God for a number of years. But Trudi felt God had something more. She talked to Pastor Curtis about it and he gave her some good advice: Pray. He told her to write down what she needed for the school, put the paper in her Bible, and ask God specifically for those things. So, she did. Trudi asked for a group of people, and a way to make this happen.
A week later, Alpine Church got a phone call from someone named Brandon Wiebe. He was calling to inform them about an event being held at his church, East Side; this event was a “town hall” style meeting about Christian education, with the goal of gathering like-minded people to form a Christian school in Swift Current. The group guiding the event – and the school-opening process – was called the Canadian Christian Education Movement, a project of the organization TeachBeyond.
Prayers were being answered. At the Town Hall many individuals expressed interest in the project but two expressed passion: Pastor David Koster of Bridgeway, and Jordi Sekerak, also from Bridgeway. David and Jordi had never spoken to each other of starting a school, but both had been – what else? – praying about it. They suddenly found themselves working closely with Trudi, Pastor Curtis, and Brandon, under the direction of CCEM. Trudi had her “group,” and a way was being made.
The Board – those five initial individuals – are working hard and seeking God on all aspects of this project. This is His story, His school. And we’re seeing it come together: in 2025, we completed our founding documents, incorporated as a non-profit legal entity, and submitted our application to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Education. We continue to diligently and prayerfully check things off the list as we prepare for God to open these doors.
This “group” that Trudi prayed for continues to grow. We welcome brothers and sisters from churches all over the city to join our team, get on board, catch the vision, volunteer, donate… and most of all: pray! This school doesn’t belong to any one church, or a “board” of people, or a denomination: it belongs to Christ and we are all part of his body, working out his will on this Earth. Please – join us.
Meet our Teachers & Staff
We are signing contracts with our teachers currently, and will update this area once we have done that. They are exceptional individuals and we are very excited and humbled to have them on board.

Lead Teacher
Gloryfe Abion
Gloryfe is a mother and licensed educator who graduated from Philippine Normal University with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with an undergraduate certificate in Special Education.
With a diverse career spanning teaching in nonsectarian and Christian schools, supporting homeschooling families in the Philippines, and nurturing young learners through early childhood education in Canada, she remains dedicated to building learning environments that foster holistic growth and a lifelong love for learning.
Driven by her faith and the firm belief that children learn by example and are great imitators, she strives to be a Christlike role model for both her students and colleagues, dedicating her daily speech and actions to showing Christ’s love and honoring God.

Latin Teacher
Pastor Elijah van de Laar
Pastor Eli will be teaching Latin to kids grade 3 and up.
He has been Pastor at Faith Evangelical Missionary Church in Swift Current since 2023. Eli has a passion for strengthening those weak in the faith by demonstrating the internal glory of the Scriptures' testimony to Christ. He received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Millar College of the Bible, and is working towards a Th.M through Westminster Seminary UK.
He has a love of language which has extended beyond Greek and Hebrew, even into Latin.
Eli and his wife, Fran, are raising two daughters and a newborn son.

Phys. Ed. Teachers
Elevate Sports
Elevate Sports is a christian ministry that will be leading our physical education.
Elevates Mission is to use athletics to impact others for Christ through relationship and skill development.
Their Vision is to develop athletes to use their gifts for Christ and others. When we have a bigger purpose than self, like care for others, teammates and for a God that created us, we believe we can do amazing things through sport. It is through this that Elevate Sports Organization finds its purpose and goal. We want to see athletes raise their game in growing their skills and abilities, but also raise it from their view of themselves and to see the bigger picture of how sports can impact those around them.
Learn more: elevatesports.ca

Lead Music Teacher
Chanella Thompson
Chanella Thompson has a music degree from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and has had a private piano studio since 2009. She has a passion for presenting the foundations of music to a child from a young age, emphasizing rhythm, tonality, dexterity, and creativity. She greatly enjoys teaching and preparing students for worship teams and groups whether at home as a family or at their local church. Her teaching style is to discover where each student’s strengths are and allow them to grow in those as an individual, rather than a one-system-for-all approach.

Music Teacher
Kennedy Thompson
Kennedy Thompson is a skilled and versatile instrumentalist with his main two instruments being guitar and drums. He has taught a variety of students from beginner-intermediate since approx 2017, and regularly trains and develops both youth and adults in worship ministry. He holds a balanced approach of bringing a good work ethic to skill development; then pulling out the creativity that skill allows. His primary goal is to create well rounded, capable, and creative musicians who enjoy their craft and do it with excellence.

Principal
Trudi Banman
Trudi is a founding board member of King’s and has spent countless hours in prayer for the school. Possessing intimate knowledge of who we are and a very deep passion for what we are doing, she is equipped and excited to be stepping into the role of principal.
Trudi has extensive personal and professional experience working with children, including those with diverse needs. She is also a gifted, trained administrator with education in financial planning. Most importantly, she cares profoundly about every student who joins our King’s family and is committed to serving our families with faithfulness and joy.
Meet our Board of Trustees

Board Chair
Brandon Wiebe
Brandon is an entrepreneur and graphic designer who has worked for Briercrest College and Samaritan's Purse Canada (Operation Christmas Child). Brandon attends and serves at East Side Church of God, where he co-leads the annual Alpha and Bible Basics courses. He is passionate about Christian unity and believes King's will play a significant role in bringing the Body of Christ closer together in Swift Current.

Vice-Chair
Pastor David Koster
David has been the Associate Pastor at Bridgeway community church since 2023, where he primarily leads the youth ministry and assists in leading worship, and preaching. David holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Millar College of the Bible. He is passionate about helping parents fulfill the scriptural command to train up their children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Treasurer
Trudi Banman
Trudi is a proud mother of four and grandmother of eight. She homeschooled her youngest; and for three years organized and supervised art and gym classes for homeschoolers at Alpine Church of God. Trudi leads Awana Club, a girl's youth Bible Study, and Sunday School at Alpine. She also has a certificate in office administration. Trudi is passionate about seeing children taught about Jesus in primary education.

Member at Large
Pastor Curtis Cave
Curtis has been the Lead Pastor of Alpine Church of God since 2018. His heart and passion is to lead others into a realization of who they are in Christ, to know and experience the love of God and to walk into all God has planned for them. He has provided space for homeschoolers and their families to come together at Alpine for a number of years and he believes Christ belongs in the classroom.

Member at Large
Ryan Henderson
Ryan joined King's board in August 2026. With a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and a Bachelor of Arts degree (English and History majors) from the University of Alberta, Ryan has a life-long love of education. He is passionate about learning the Word and bringing the Christian community together. As a father of three, he is committed to God-centred learning and was happy to join the team.

Member at Large
Pastor Elijah van de Laar
Pastor Eli has been pastoring at Faith Evangelical Missionary Church in Swift Current since 2023. Eli has a passion for strengthening those weak in the faith by demonstrating the internal glory of the Scriptures' testimony to Christ. He received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Millar College of the Bible, and is working towards a Th.M through Westminster Seminary UK.
He has a love of language which has extended beyond Greek and Hebrew, even into Latin. Eli and his wife, Fran, are raising two daughters and a newborn son.

Founding Board Member
Jordi Sekerak
Jordi has taken a sabbatical from the board as of September 2026. She has been outstanding and integral to the existence and foundation of King's. We look forward to her returning later on.
Jordi is a stay-at-home mother of four. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Briercrest Seminary, and a Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Exeter (UK). She is passionate about Christians coming together to educate their children, believing this to be a form of worship as well as a God-given opportunity for creativity, joy, strength-building, and connection.