Ralph Van Oostveen
Regional Minister (Part Time)
Ralph has served as a pastor in full time service for 36 years. He began in Palmerston EMC in 1989. During his years in Palmerston, he was first licenced (‘90) and then ordained (‘91). Subsequently he has served in 3 other EMCC congregations: Elgin EMC (Stratford, ON), Upper Thames EMC (Mitchell, ON), and he is currently serving at Bethel EMC in Lindsay, ON. In January 2026, Ralph also joined the EMCC National Team as a part-time regional minister for EMCC churches in the north of Ontario.
In 2002, Ralph had the privilege of planting the ministry in Mitchell. This was a daughter ministry to Elgin EMC in Stratford. He served as their pastor for 18 years.
Ralph is a graduate of New Brunswick Bible Institute, and Covington Theological Seminary. He has a Bachelor of Theology degree, as well as a Master in Ministry degree.
He and his wife Kim have 3 grown children. Michael, who is a full-time missionary serving with YWAM in Guatemala, Alyssa, who works and lives in Edmonton Alberta, and Ava, a recent graduate of the Pre-service Fire Fighting program at Fleming College.
Congregants who have sat under Ralph’s ministry would agree that the most frequent phrase coming from him while preaching is, in reference to the bible, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”
Contact
Email: rvanoostveen@emcc.ca