Upcoming Guests
Friday March 28, 2025
Willy Gakunski
Author of “When Light Fades Away, Hope Remains”
Willy Gakunzi is a devoted father to his beautiful daughters Kayla and Shayna. He has a remarkable life journey that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in the high plateau of Mulenge in the South Kivu region. Raised in Rwanda, Willy is now based in Toronto, Canada, alongside his loving family.
His academic achievements include a Master of Science in International Economics and Business from the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands. Willy has also earned certification as a Functional Business Architect from the University of Antwerp and Cefora Institute in Belgium.
Willy is a distinguished Banking and Financial Regulatory Risk Subject Matter Expert with over 15 years of expertise. In recognition of his exceptional leadership, Willy was honored with the 2021 CEO Award. Willy is the founder of Heart of Worship in Action Foundation (www.howfoundation.org) – a non-for-profit charity organization that strives to unlock potential inside the marginalized people through skills acquisition. He is a songwriter and gospel recording artist. At home, you can find Willy playing creative games with his two daughter or learning a new cuisine.
In this the book I journey with you through the corridors of life, particularly in the aftermath of adversities. I have unraveled the profound simplicity and intricate complexity encapsulated within life’s equation, shaped by two pivotal variables: truth and dare, facts and unknown. This dichotomy, in my perception, encapsulates the entirety of our odyssey called life.
Within the pages of When Light Fades Away, Hope Remains, my endeavor is twofold: an acknowledgment of adversities’ existence interwoven in my life’s fabric, coupled with the unwavering conviction that daring to persist in the face of these facts preserves a radiant, unfading ember of hope. Vulnerable truths unveiled herein, I aspire, will embolden you to dare, to love, to pursue fervently the passions almost stifled by heartaches.
http://www.whenlightfadesawayhoperemains.com/
Thursday March 27, 2025
Susan Binkley
Founder and President of Blue Monarch
Speaker
Author of “From My Front Row Seat”
From My Front Row Seat is a bestselling book inspired by Susan Binkley's blog posts. Susan weaves an intricate tapestry of candid Blue Monarch life, as seen through her eyes, combined with her own colorful lifetime experiences. Her voice is raw and authentic with a thread of humor just around the corner.
Susan’s stories are filled with complicated realities of recovery, tragedies of generational abuse and addiction, honest struggles of leadership, the tremendous power of prayer, and beautiful illustrations of a God who heals. The reader will get to know the courageous women and precious children of Blue Monarch and will walk away reminded that miracles are still very real and that God uses ordinary and even reluctant people to make them happen.
With no fear of taking risks, Susan Binkley embarked on a difficult spiritual journey that started with nothing but a powerful dream one night in 1995 - a dream she had clearly intercepted, which was surely intended for someone else. After all, the dream was about helping women and children, and Susan did not particularly care for either. Shortly after, however, she found herself on an unexpected journey that completely changed her life and heart.
In 2003, through blind faith and profound determination, Susan founded Blue Monarch, a Christian residential recovery program for women and their children overcoming abuse and addiction, which made her dream remarkably prophetic. As a professional artist and seasoned entrepreneur, with no education or experience in social work, Susan used her creativity and out-of-the-box problem solving to develop one of the most unique and effective long-term recovery programs in the country. Susan often says, “Why settle for ordinary if you can have extraordinary?”
http://www.bluemonarch.org/
Wednesday March 26, 2025
Lena Cebula
Author “Miraculous: My Journey from Hell to Heaven”
Social Justice Advocate
Podcast Host/Speaker
Are you struggling to believe there is a purpose for your life, that you can make
sense of what seems like a mess? Struggling to believe that there is someone -
anyone - who cares about you? Struggling to believe that after all you've been
through, seen, or done that there is a chance you'll ever find peace and
wholeness again? As a little girl growing up in a post-USSR Ukrainian iron
mining town, Lena spent her life grappling with these same questions. This raw,
transparent account of her life chronicles the years she spent running -
running from a broken family, broken country, and broken dreams - in pursuit of
something or someone who could calm the hopeless nightmare that her life had
become. Drug addicted, alcohol dependent, and twice trafficked to foreign
countries, she still had glimpses of what her life could be and kept chasing
the elusive peace she constantly craved. However, on the other side of each
empty promise of fulfillment she only ever found more pain until one day, one
promise checked out. Lena met someone who showed her she didn't have to run
anymore. Miraculous is a story of the storm before the calm, a journey from
pain to healing. It is Lena's story, but it could be yours, too.
http://www.lenacebula.ca/
Tuesday March 25, 2025
Mark Masri
Co-Host 100 Huntley Street
JUNO, and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
The Tenors
Mark Masri, is co-host of 100 Huntley Street, Canada's longest-running daily talk show, as well as JUNO, and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Mark has been part of the Crossroads family since 1997 in the capacity of Music Producer. In 2003, Mark took time away from Crossroads to pursue his singer/songwriter career.
In Fall 2019, Mark was asked to sub-co-host with Cheryl and Maggie, and within a few months, Mark became a more regular co-host.
"I was still finding my voice when I left, so coming back to 100 Huntley Street after having lived life and establishing myself in the music industry has been a pleasant surprise. I feel like I’ve returned with an experiential and spiritual maturity that adds to the role. I’m excited about God's plans for the future."
Mark Masri brings an extensive musical and hosting experience to his role as a host on 100 Huntley Street. With his powerful tenor voice, Mark uses his passion for music to share the powerful message of love, loss, sorrow and, most importantly, our hope in Jesus Christ.
Whether he's co-hosting 100 Huntley Street, performing with The Vivaldi Orchestra in Moscow, headlining his North American tour, or guesting on David Foster’s, Hitman Returns Television Special; Mark opens hearts and minds with thought-provoking songs and his charismatic stage presence.
http://100huntley.com/
Deina Warren
Director of Legal Affairs at Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
Deina completed her Hon. B.A. in Political Science at Western and worked for UWO before earning her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Ottawa, where she graduated in the top 10 per cent of her class.
During law school she was actively engaged with the student Christian Legal Fellowship chapter, and interned at the Senate Law Clerk’s Office, the Department of Justice Parliamentary Affairs Unit, and the Criminal Convictions Review Group.
Deina articled as a Judicial Law Clerk in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Central-South Region. Called to the Ontario Bar in 2009, Deina then pursued her LL.M. at Osgoode Hall, which she successfully completed in 2012.
Prior to joining CCCC, Deina’s practice focused largely on constitutional and human rights law, and she served as co-counsel in a variety of courts and tribunals including interventions in cases such as Wall at the Supreme Court of Canada, Trinity Western in Nova Scotia and at the Supreme Court of Canada, and CMDS v CPSO at the Ontario Divisional and Appeal Courts.
Deina enjoys legal research and writing, regularly contributing to the Christian Legal Journal. She has also written for the Gospel Coalition Canada, and recently co-authored an article for the Supreme Court Law Review. One of her favourite things to do is translate legalese into relevant (and hopefully interesting!) terms for church leadership and the Christian community more broadly, and she often speaks on this topic at a variety of conferences and meetings.
Active in her local church, Deina also serves on a variety of charitable boards, is part of Christian Legal Fellowship, the Halton County Law Association, and the Canadian Bar Association. Terrible at keeping houseplants alive, she nonetheless still attempts to garden, enjoys cooking, reading fiction, running, and along with her husband and three daughters, is eagerly awaiting the chance to adopt a rescue dog (or two). In this role, Deina will support the Director, Legal Affairs with research, legal analysis and content development. This role is primarily internally facing and provides legal support to senior leadership and team members on a broad range of charity, tax and trust law issues.
http://www.cccc.org/
Monday March 24, 2025
Noah James
Actor in “The Chosen”
The Chosen is the first multi-season television series about the life of Christ, as witnessed through the eyes of those He impacted. Directed by Dallas Jenkins, The Chosen has grown to become the largest crowdfunded TV series of all time. The Chosen allows us to see Jesus through the eyes of those who knew Him. No matter where you are at in your journey with Jesus Christ, this TV show is for you.
Noah James is a Los Angeles based actor who grew up in Tempe, Arizona. Noah portrays the role of Andrew, one of the 12 disciples, in The Chosen.
The Chosen, Season 5, debuts in theaters on March 28, 2025. Later in 2025, the season will make its streaming debut on Prime Video. Seasons 1-4 are now available on PRIME VIDEO and THE CHOSEN APP.
http://www.thechosen.tv/en-us