Stephen, born on the West coast of Canada, grew up in a small town in Nova Scotia. He attended Canadian Bible College in 1993/94. His camp experience began with a week as a counsellor at Camp Chamisall. Stephen was also on staff at Camp Evergreen in Sundre and a few years later served as summer director and off-season climbing instructor for Timberline Ranch in Maple Ridge B.C. for two years.

It was following that ministry and a lengthy time of prayer that the Lord called Stephen to serve in the development of the first year-round Christian camp facility in Latvia in 1999. It was at this camp that he met his wife Natalija.

Natalija was born in Riga, the capital of Latvia. She became involved in camp work through her local church and felt the Lord call her to that ministry after she graduated from high school in 1999. Natalija worked for the summer at the same camp to which Stephen had been called and stayed on year-round when Stephen returned to Canada for the winter.

Stephen and Natalija were married on April 28th, 2001. They have been serving the Lord with Greater Europe Mission in Latvia since then as well as spending part of the year in Calgary while Natalija completed her degree in Christian Education at Rocky Mountain College.

Their calling to Latvia is to serve the local churches who are using or wish to use camping as a part of their strategy to reach their communities. They have helped in the development of the camp site where they met, worked to see more networking of camping ministry across Latvia, and spent the last three years helping to develop a training centre for camping and youth work. They  are now taking the next step to which the Lord has called them. This will be developing a portable tent camp package that can be moved to different locations around Latvia to serve the local churches. Finding an affordable, practical place to run a camp has been a real challenge for the Latvian churches.

Camping mininstry has been a dynamic way for churches to reach children and youth in Latvia. Many lives have been changed and churches have grown as a result camp ministry.

Natalija graduated with her bachelor degree in 2005 and now the Janzes are living in Latvia on a permanent basis. Their family grew on August the 8th 2006 with the arrival of Samuel Stephen Janz. It grew again at the end of August as Natalija's 14 year old sister moved in with them. Stephen and Natalija will continue to trust in the Lord and follow his leading - walking through the doors that He opens, and serving churches to help them continue to reach youth through camp ministry in a way that is relevant to the culture and economy in Latvia.

“We invite you to pray with Stephen and Natalija and to partner with them in the ministry as the Lord leads you. There are many ways you can be involved and make a difference.”