Camilla Faragalli, reporter

Funded by the Local Journalism Initiative

Edwin Valles was the only
person in the Shawville Bethel
Pentecostal Church on Thursday
morning. He stood in the foyer,
clad in a sports jacket and
checkered shirt, and smiled when
I walked in.
It took a moment for it to click
that this was the new pastor of
the Bethel Pentecostal Church;
the pastor I’d arranged to meet.
Maybe it was the sports jacket.
Valles was gracious enough
to put an end to my confusion,
introducing himself and offering
a quick handshake. He led us
into the empty chapel, where
we sat not in the pews but on
the regular chairs up against the
back wall.
I soon learned that he, like I,
was a GTA-grown city-slicker,
taking on a new adventure in
rural Quebec.
“I think, as a minister, you
kind of ask yourself, ‘God, where
do you want me to be? What
direction do you want me to
take?’” Valles reflected.
I, decidedly not a minister,
asked him to clarify.
“We don’t ‘make moves’,” he
said. “We decide to go places
through prayer and through
the leading of God. So through
prayer we felt impressed that
this is a place for us. I saw the
ad on the website, that they were
looking for a senior pastor, and
felt that what they’re looking
for… that I filled the need.”
In the “we”, he was referring
to his wife and daughter, who
have made the move to Pontiac
as well.

“That’s the thing that
encouraged me most [to come],”
Valles said. “My family is
onboard. They had to want to be
here.”
Valles was born in the
Philippines, into a family of 11
children. He came to Canada
in the sixth grade, attending a
French school in Quebec for two
years before moving to Ontario.
“I’ve lived in BC, Ottawa,
Quebec, all around Canada,” he
said, “but I’m excited to be here.”
Valles told me he’s looking
forward to getting to know the
people of the church, but also of
the larger community
“We’re praying that this is the
right place for us. We’ve never
lived in a community like this
before, but we want to stay here
long-term,” he said.

I think in a small-town
setting, you’re the pastor for the
whole community.”
I asked Valles what it was that
he’d meant earlier, about filling a
“need” of the church.
What appears to be Valles’ true
vocation became immediately
evident.
“I try and be a father figure or
a mentor to a lot of the young
people,” he said. “Whether it
just be hanging out playing
basketball, or going to a
restaurant.”
Valles said it was his impression
that Bethel Pentecostal seemed
determined to reach out to a
younger generation.
“That’s been my thing for the
longest time. I worked as a youth
pastor at different churches for
many years. My experience is
in teaching and mentoring kids,
and just reaching out to them,”
Valles said.
“And that is why I think I’m a
good fit here.”
Pastor Edwin Valles will be
holding his first mass at Bethel
Pentecostal this Sunday, Nov. 5,
at 10 a.m. All are welcome.