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. Their second son, Brett, is the Associate Pastor of the church. They now also have six grandchildren.

   Pastor Brett Pennell is the Assistant Pastor at Heritage Baptist Church, and the son of Pastor LeRoy Pennell. Brett grew up in the church from the nursery right on through high school. He joined the staff of Heritage Baptist Church in August of 1997 after graduating with a BTh from Oklahoma Baptist College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Having grown up in the church, and in the home of the pastor, he has seen the church from the inside out.

   Besides preaching in the absence of Pastor Pennell, Brett Pennell heads up many ministries in the church. He is the Principal of Heritage Christian Academy, heads up the youth group for our teenagers, and serves as the bus director. All these are exciting, growing areas of ministry at Heritage Baptist Church.

Meet His Family 

   Pastor Brett Pennell is married to Janell. She is a godly wife and good example. Janell is from Oklahoma City. Brett and Janell met and were married there. Janell is the church organist, teaches a Sunday School Class and helps in our Wednesday Night Teen class. She taught at Heritage Christian Academy for two years before starting a family. The Lord has blessed Brett and Janell with four children: Leann, Chad, Esther, and Jay.