7 Questions with Church leaders
Read insights and thoughts on leadership from Church Leaders around the world.
Thank you to the amazing church leaders who have answered our 7 questions so far, we hope you find their answers helpful for you in your leadership journey!
7 Questions with Deborah Candler
Name: Deborah Candler
Current title: Pastor
Current organisation: Glow Church and Australian Christian Churches
Deborah Candler grew up in Horsham, Victoria to Christian parents who instilled in her a love for God, a fascination with the Bible and a vision to preach and teach. Deb spent the first half of her career as a children's dentist and a community oral health educator before transitioning into ministry where she has continued as a life-long learner gaining post-graduate degrees in Theology and a Master of Arts in Ministry and Leadership.
Deb sees her role of pastor as a gift to the 'body of Christ' and as such spends a good deal of her time lecturing for various Bible Colleges, delivering individual and corporate mentoring and key-note speaking for diverse denominations, and oversees the health and well being of (particularly) women leaders and pastors within the Gold Coast ACC.
Deb is also an author and currently has her second book with a publisher due for release later this year. She is married to Philip, the general Manager of the international Maritimo boat building company. They are prolific mentors to Christian leaders and business owners and co-developed an award winning apprenticeship mentor training package with an emphasis on healthy relationships and life-skills.
Deb is also a trainer with MATE (motivating action through empowerment), a by-stander and cultural change course in response to domestic violence. In collaboration with the combined churches on the Gold Coast and Griffith University, the course is now licensed to deliver to all faith based communities with the aim of exposing and changing the cultural norms that create normalised environments ripe for abuse.
Together, Deb and Phil have four children, eight grandchildren and two more due to be born July 2021 and January 2022.
Deb and Phil absolutely love their life on the Gold Coast and laugh at the thought of working till they are ninety to finance Birthdays and Christmas for their expanding family!!
7 Questions with Michael Hilton McIlwain
Name: Michael Hilton McIlwain
Current title: Pastor
Current organisation: Central Baptist Church
I am a bi-vocational pastor in SE Texas. I have been serving in churches for 35 years. I was bi-vocational for 15 years, full-time as an associate and music pastor for 19 years, and have now come full circle to being bi-vocational. I have been married to Jennifer for 29 years. We have a daughter who is pursuing her M.Div at Truett Seminary in Waco. TX. We have a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter.
7 Questions with Craig Rees
Name: Craig Rees
Current title: Lead Pastor
Current organisation: Central Wesleyan Church and Water's Edge
Craig is married to Wibke (Vib’ka), they have six children, four biological and two adopted (siblings).
Craig is a Welshman, who married a German, Wibke, whom he met while teaching and leading at Operation Mobilization’s Love Europe Conference. For nearly three decades they’ve served churches in the UK, Germany, and the United States.
For the last seven years they have lived in Holland, Michigan, USA, becoming the Lead Pastor of Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, Michigan and Lead Pastor of Water’s Edge, the multi-church family of churches birthed from that church, and now totaling twelve churches across the globe. Wibke is active in all facets of the ministry but primarily devotes herself to leading a dynamic recovery ministry. Being the adventurous type she is, Wibke loves running including ultra-marathons up to 100 miles!
7 Questions with T John Ravichandran
Name: T. John Ravichandran
Current title: Village Pastor
Current organisation: Hallelujah Village Church Trust
I am received medical miracle healing through two major surgeries in my abdomen God give second life I committed my rest of life God called me to do His ministry in slum village of Vellore Tamil Nadu state south India then I completed my bachelor of theological studies planted 2 village church now I am conducting village ministry village church worship services apart from 10 different ministry under my leadership
T JOHN RAVI CHANDRAN
7 Questions with Tucker Fleischmann
Name: Tucker Fleischmann
Current title: Worship Leader, Location Pastor
Current organisation: Central Church
I’m Tucker, I’m 26 years old, and I’m married to my amazing wife Lauren. We’ve been married for 3 years and have been together for 10. I’ve been at Central Church in Las Vegas for 3.5 years and I do a little of everything. I lead worship and song writing for our worship band Central Live. I creative direct and lead worship for our youth ministry. I’m currently launching our newest location in Flagstaff, AZ which keeps me on the road about half of the week, and I’m wrapping up my MABTS at Western Seminary. Love my family. Love our ministry at Central.
7 Questions with Chika Ossai-Ugbah
Name: Chika Ossai-Ugbah
Current title: Lead Pastor
Current organisation: Covenant Life Baptist Church, Benin City, Nigeria
Chikaogu, fondly called Pastor Chika holds a PhD in Adaptive Theology with specialization in New Testament exegesis. He is a United Nations-POLAC Ambassador of peace.
He has been in ministry for 25 years and actively engaged as a teacher of the word.
He is married to Ngozi, a family and relationship minister/coach.
7 Questions with JT Raclowski
Name: J.T. Raclowski
Current title: Digital Minister
Current organisation: First United Methodist Church of Wind Gap PA
When I was a child my parents never forced Religion on me. My Father was Catholic and my Mother Protestant. So growing up I had friends that went to all different churches and I started going with them on Sundays. After a while I decided where I felt most comfortable. and started going to a Methodist church in town. When I reached High school I pleaded with my Parents to send me to Catholic school. There I gained a deep understanding of my faith. After High school I was void of religion. I knew what I believed but got too busy with Work and School. I took a Job in PA which was a big move from rural NJ. There I met my Beautiful Wife Lisa and we got Married and had 2 kids of our own. Work was taking me all over PA and every few years we would have to move to where the work was. Finally we moved back to New Jersey. I got a job at Nickelodeon in NYC, and we were able to save up to buy a house. With some help from our families we finally bought a house in Wind Gap PA. We were out for a walk one night and the church in our community was giving out free hotdogs. so we stopped and started chatting with some of them. That Sunday we went to church with them and the rest is history. Now I am the Digital Minister, Head of Missions, on the board of Trustees and My Wife and I are Founding Members of Because You Matter Ministries. We do a Free Community Meal every Thursday with Live Worship Music, Have a Limited Pantry and give out Tons of Free food Monthly.
7 Questions with OLU MIKE OMOASEGUN
Name: OLU MIKE OMOASEGUN
Current title: Pastor (Professor)
Current organisation: CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH GASHUA, NIGERIA, and BIBLE UNIVERSITY
OLU MIKE OMOASEGUN is a motivational keynote speaker, a leadership expert and a certified ordained pastor who valued dedication and service to the people. He is the President Bible University Canada, holds 3 PhDs, Professor of Master’s programs at Bible University,
Pastor, Christ Apostolic Church, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria, Founder/Coordinator, the Author of Life Prayer Ministry, CEO, Omoasegun Global Links, and
CEO, Fountain Reporters,
A motivational speaker, writer, counsellor, and author of 60 published books, several papers, and numerous articles,
Co-authors “Christ Throughout Africa” with Dr Tonny Hyman from South Africa
Chairman, Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria & Pentecostal fellowship of Nigeria [CPFN/PFN] Bade Local Government Chapter,
Vice-Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria, Bade Chapter,
Chairman, CACCOPS, Kano Conference Centre (12 States), Nigeria
Over 20 years’ experience in pastoring,
10 years’ experience in e-lecturing/coaching],
Members of United Christian Faith Ministries, USA,
Member of Association of Christian Educators (ACE), USA,
Member of Special Marshals, the volunteer arm of the Federal Road Safety Corps
And a member of Bold Christian University Alumni, Africa Chapter.
