Head Office

Paul Kroeker

Director and Dean of International Programs

As the Director of the Outtatown Discipleship Schools, Paul considers it a privilege to be working with fine Christian leaders in a program that has such a profound impact in the lives of young adults. He grew up in Elm Creek, a small prairie town in Manitoba in a wonderful Christian home. After making a commitment to Jesus Christ in his teen years, Paul has had many opportunities both to be a disciple and to disciple others. This led him to study at Winkler Bible Institute, to complete a degree in education at University of Manitoba, to do Old Testament studies in Cincinnati, Ohio, and to study theology at Regent College in Vancouver (BSC, Cert. Ed., MA, and ThM). His work experience includes farming, construction, teaching, administration, pastoral work, and counseling. He is passionate about worship, being faithful to God, discipleship and mentoring, and about seeing God’s glory and goodness revealed in this world.

With a love for the Lord, a love for people and a love for the world that God has created, Paul has many hobbies and interests. First of all he loves to spend time with his family; his wife Arlene who is a musician, and two children, Tamara and Cameron, both in their college/university years. Other hobbies include running, reading, photography, gardening, travel, a good coffee, fine desserts, watching the news, and . . . more things than he has time and energy for. Some of these he does well and others quite badly.

He hates weeds and absolutely loves trees. Furthermore, he thinks he can dance but finds that the band or the other dance partners can never find the changing rhythms that he so clearly hears.

Stephen Plett

Program Manager

Having experienced many life-giving moments as a student on Outtatown in 2001-02, Stephen has been grateful for the opportunity in recent years to give back in the form of leadership, serving as a site leader, country partner, and now as a program manager. Stephen has enjoyed this support role in its various tasks, especially valuing time out of the office, discussing real faith issues with friends over coffee or around a campfire, which he finds can be as good to the soul as a mouth-watering steak is to his taste buds!

Prior to this current assignment, Stephen fulfilled his aims to 'backpack' Europe and gain some work skills at framing houses. He has also obtained a history degree from Brock University, near his hometown of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Fascinated with areas of study surrounding exploration and discovery, naturally Stephen loves to travel and experience things first hand, as well as reading about the events which have shaped the world in which we live in.

Other interests include sports, photography, aviation and cinema. His real passion is to see people 'come alive' to the full life God has intended; and he sees the adventure, service, and faith community of the Outtatown Discipleship School as valuable building blocks.

Ruth Bruinooge

Program Manager

Ruth’s journey with Outtatown began in 2001, when she spent two amazing and fun-filled years working as a Guatemala site leader.  She followed up those life-changing years with an equally enjoyable assignment, serving as a youth pastor for six years here in Winnipeg. 

Ruth returned to the Outtatown program in 2009, where she is now one of the people that helps make Outtatown happen – doing all kinds of interesting things like making schedules and booking flights, as well as training staff and providing on-site support in both Canada and Guatemala.  Opportunities to connect with site leaders and students throughout the year are some of the things that she loves the most about working with Outtatown.

Prior to her life on the prairies, Ruth completed a year of bible school at Capenwray in Germany and a BA in Psychology at the University of British Columbia.  Born and raised in Vancouver, she often finds herself longing for the west coast, but lately she has found that life in Manitoba is starting to grow on her. 

In her spare time, Ruth loves to hang-out with her husband, cook, read, watch reality TV (embarrassing, but true), and run errands via bicycle.  She also enjoys camping and canoe trips, as long as the weather cooperates.  She loves to complain about Manitoba winters, but she secretly believes that she becomes just a little more Canadian with each one that she survives.

Stefanie Heide

Office Assistant

Stefanie Heide is "muy contenta" to be working part-time with Outtatown at the same time as she pursues a Social Science BA, with a Concentration in Intercultural Studies, at CMU. While just 5 years ago she probably wouldn't have fancied herself to be much of an office type, neither would she then have guessed that she would be one to throw herself off a 216 meter bridge, ride a Gospel Train, or play with baby lions, all in South Africa no less!
Originally hailing from small-town Aylmer, ON (a place which she thinks is the bee's knees), Stefanie did all of the above during her year on Site 3 South Africa in 06/07. During that year, she grew to love her site members like family, was challenged in her perspectives of the world, and began engaging with her faith like she had never done before. She finds it very "Lekker!" to now be part of the team that helps make Outtatown happen and to continually see God at work in the lives of all those involved with this program.
When not engaging obstinate office equipment in battle, Stefanie can be found enjoying the great outdoors, playing inventor in the kitchen, or tickling some ivories. A good day for Stef would involve a nice cuppa tea and an episode of The Office (American version), a friendly conversation concerning dinosaurs, and a trip to Mexico with her familia and a lawn gnome. Her favourite invention is the bicycle, followed in close second by that impervious clog, the rubber boot.