Dr. LeRoy A. Pennell is the founding pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Pennell and his wife Arlene moved to Barrie in 1975 and started Heritage Baptist Church, meeting in a public school building. Since that time, the church has grown, and grown, and grown! Right from the beginning God had His hand on this work as people began to be saved and catch the vision God has placed in the heart of our pastor. At present, the church is located on 5 acres of property near a main intersection, just off highway 400. The church is blessed with beautiful facilities for both church and school activities.
Heritage Christian Academy was founded in 1978, and now has graduates serving in many areas of ministry and business. Under his leadership the church continues to grow and has a vital outreach program into the community, and around the world.
One of the great blessing of being a member of Heritage is that we have had the same pastor with the same vision and philosophy over all these years. This has made for a very solid, friendly, and unified ministry.
Dr. Pennell holds a BTh. Degree and has twice been honoured with D.D. Degrees.
Besides giving leadership to the local church, Dr. Pennell has been active in helping new churches get planted. Heritage Baptist Church has helped plant 13 other churches and has plans to start others in the next few years. Dr. Pennell serves as Vice President of Baptist Church Planting Ministries, serves on the Canadian Board of Baptist International Missions Inc., and also serves on the Board of International Baptist Mission to Asians. The church has a strong missions program, and helps to support over 60 missionaries in Canada and around the world.
Meet My Family
My wife, Arlene, is a godly and faithful wife who sets a good example for the other ladies in the church to follow. She leads the Ladies Fellowship Group and also helps out in the church office as needed. The Pennell’s have three sons who are all married to fine Christian ladies and members of the church. Their second son, Brett, is the Associate Pastor of the church. They now also have eight grandchildren.