Artizo aims to fill Canada
with the sound of God's word
Artizo is staffed by able, qualified ministers and teachers, and supported in each training church by practising pastors and mentors. In addition to the regular weekly training provided by Artizo staff, training churches are expected to participate by supporting Artizo, providing opportunities for preaching and hands-on ministry, and providing feedback to apprentices.
Rev. Canon Ben Roberts
Director of Training,
Executive Director
Ben has been active in gospel-centered Anglican ministry for 20 years, serving first as a full-time youth minister before pursuing an M.Div at Regent College in 2008. This study, alongside an Artizo apprenticeship at St. John’s Vancouver, prepared him for pastoral work while sparking a special interest in the work of training. Ben began serving as a pastor at St. John’s Richmond in 2011 and was ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion in 2012. Since becoming Artizo’s Director of Training in 2018, Ben first redesigned and then extensively developed Artizo’s new curriculum to ensure robust and comprehensive ministry training with a special focus on the development of preaching and teaching. He pursued the work of “training trainers” to extend Artizo’s reach, expanding the program to include multiple training churches, resourcing and equipping active local pastors to serve as partners and Artizo trainers. In 2021, Ben was made Canon of Catechesis in the Anglican Diocese of Canada, tasked with overseeing and encouraging robust teaching, training, and curriculum development. In addition to his role as Director of Training, Ben was named Executive Director of Artizo in 2025, succeeding our Founder Emeritus, Canon David Short.
Susan Norman
Trainer
Susan has been teaching the bible for many years to women in a variety of women’s groups, to university students, to youth and seniors, in churches, university campuses, at retreats, and in her home. She has a long history of training Christian leaders working for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and currently works with IVCF mentoring, training, directing, and participating in ministry with leaders and students. She has a deep love for God and a sincere passion for his work.
Rev. Phillip Pearson
Assistant Director of Training
Phill has extensive experience in many different education settings. Phill’s own education started with a bachelor’s degree in religious education and Christian studies from Heritage Bible College in Ontario in 2012. From there, Phill became lead pastor at the Embassy Student Church at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, recruiting and developing volunteer leaders, while preaching weekly and partnering with local churches. In 2014, Phill joined Nexus Church in Kitchener and participated in the Preacher’s Guild, critiquing sermons and encouraging others. After moving west, Phill spent seven years leading, training and mentoring in a very different environment at a major restaurant chain. Then, in 2023, Phill became associate pastor and ministry director at St. Peter’s Fireside Church in Vancouver. Phill oversaw the development of Artizo apprentices there and his enthusiasm has resulted in St. Peter’s becoming a strong supporter of Artizo training. Phill was ordained in 2025.
WHY SHOULD I HELP?
The Artizo Institute started in 1998 and has mentored and trained around 150 faithful ministers, a large number of which are in paid ministry.
Artizo currently has apprentices in six training churches.
The gospel is death defying. Not just because it brings us eternal life through Jesus Christ, but because we defy the power of death by training up others who are able to pass the gospel of life to the next generation. It is a critical investment of our time, prayer and resources. It is a clear New Testament expectation, priority and imperative.
By helping Artizo you are partnering in the work of the Gospel by training future leaders to go out and share the good news in ways that are honest, contemporary and effective.
Read the 5th Generation whitepaper
FAQs
Artizo aims to fill Canada with the sound of God’s word. We do this by equipping young leaders for gospel ministry.
Artizo provides an intensive hands-on 2-year apprenticeship program. The comprehensive curriculum focuses on mentoring and equipping future ministers and leaders to faithfully proclaim the Gospel and in turn entrust it to others.
Artizo is solely funded by donations.
In 1998 St. John’s Vancouver’s rector, David Short, and a few members of the congregation saw a huge and growing need to train up faithful Gospel leaders for the future in Canada. The idea was born out of these discussions and the organization has grown from there.
In 2019 Artizo will graduate its 100th intern! 80% of the interns trained have continued on to ministry in the church. While many have stayed in Canada, in this time of globalization, you can also find our interns in The US, UK, Australia, and other parts of the world.
Artizo is from the Greek word ‘to equip’. The work of Artizo is to train and equip leaders for the church so they may faithfully deliver the Gospel and, in time, raise up and equip the next generation beyond them.
Operating under the notion that ministry is more caught than taught mentorship plays a huge role in the training of interns. Each intern goes through a 2 year curriculum which includes serving in most areas of church ministry. So, time will be spent working with active ministers in pastoral care including home and hospital visits, working in children’s and family ministry, helping to organize, run and lead small groups, learning and teaching catechism and other areas of church life. Through all of this Artizo places a strong emphasis on learning expositional preaching and effective Gospel communication through ongoing coaching and practising in preaching the word.
Ben Roberts is, first and foremost, an Artizo grad himself. Ben graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois. While completing his Masters of Divinity at Regent College he was an Artizo apprentice at St. John’s Vancouver. He then went on to become a curate and then assistant minister at St. John’s Richmond. In September 2018 he joined Artizo as Director of Training. Ben lives in Vancouver with his wife Karen and three children, Adelaide, Ambrose and Olive.
Artizo is currently Vancouver based. Ben Roberts maintains an office at the St. John’s Vancouver office location. Interns meet for training at the church office, at Regent College on the UBC campus and in other locations around Vancouver.
Artizo was born out of St. John’s Vancouver. SJV rector David Short and a number of members of the SJV congregation came together in 1998 to set up Artizo. Since that time SJV has been the primary (but not only) training site for Artizo interns. In 2018 the strong relationship between SJV and Artizo was strengthened and a formal partnership was entered in to.
Artizo has a small board of directors who oversee legal compliance for charitable organizations and the general governance of the organization.
In a noisy world clear communication of God’s love in Christ Jesus can easily be stifled. By helping Artizo you are partnering in the work of the Gospel by training leaders to go out and share the good news in ways that are honest, contemporary and effective.
Artizo needs your prayers, your encouragement and your resources. First, you can pray. Please pray for the leadership to be wise in their training and management and then pray for the interns. Pray for them to grow in wisdom, understanding and effective communication and pray for them to know and be able to pass on the love of God to others. Second, you can encourage. If you are in Vancouver please attend our events. An annual Meet The Interns Night is held each fall. This is a great way to get to know interns, hear their stories and learn directly from them how you can pray for and encourage them. Finally, Artizo needs money! Artizo is 100% funded by donations and we rely on faithful supporters who have caught our vision to support every part of our operations. We accept bequests, one-off gifts or annual, or monthly donations. There is a link to donate on our website or you are welcome to contact Ben, David or a board member to find out more.
Spend some time and roam around our website. There is a lot of information about Artizo whether you are interested in the possibility of becoming an Artizo intern or supporting the organization. You can also contact us directly. Please reach out to Ben Roberts with questions, thoughts and ideas.
Board of Directors
Overseeing the vision and mission of the Artizo Institute, the Board of Directors works behind the scenes to keep the organization on track.