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 Paul Murray
Name: Rev. Dr. Paul Murray
Current title: Senior Pastor
Current organisation: The Lighthouse Church
An ordained minister serving in ministry for more than twenty-five years, Murray is the Senior Pastor of the Lighthouse Church. In addition, he has established six church works under his own ministry in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Georgia, and internationally in Nairobi, Kenya and Oslo, Norway. He was consecrated and elevated to the office of Bishop in July 2017, where he holds his ministerial credentials with One Way Churches International (OWCI).
In his passion to help others through their dark days of failure, Dr. Murray is the author of the award-winning book, Broken: Picking Up the Pieces After the Fall and soon to be released, ‘First To Serve: A Call To Servant Leadership’. A former Peace Corps Volunteer in the country of Tunisia, Murray holds a Doctorate in Pastoral Leadership from Howard University's School of Divinity, a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Counseling and a Master of Art in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Phoenix where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Services.
His ministry would not be complete without his wife of 30 years, Rachel. She serves as the Minister of Music and is a sought-after speaker as she empowers women and families through Christ. And they are the proud parents of 3 adult children; two married and all serving in ministry and raising our 6 grandchildren.
7 Questions with Robert Martin
Name: Robert Martin
Current title: Engaging Executive
Current organisation: City Bible Forum
I work with City Bible Forum helping workers of Australia engage life's biggest questions. I host a radio show and podcast called "Bigger Questions'. I have been with City Bible Forum for over 11 years and previously I worked in the business world
7 Questions with Kate Thoelke
Name: Kate Thoelke
Current title: Principal/Teacher
Current organisation: St. Paul Lutheran Church
Serving as principal and serving as K-2 core subjects teacher for the last four years, I continue in service to the church. I have served as a teacher and music director for Lutheran churches and schools since 1996.
7 Questions with Jackelyn Viera Iloff
Name: Jackelyn Viera Iloff
Current title: Senior Advisor, Special Projects
Current organisation: Lakewood Church / Joel Osteen Ministries
Jackelyn Viera Iloff is an ordained minister/senior advisor at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, where she leads church community outreach and develops and implements special projects. She is also a recognized author, producer, and consultant. Her credits include award-winning History Channel series Jesus: His Life, the film Walking with Herb, NFL Super Bowl Gospel Concert, Clay Walker and Friends Relief Concert, and Paramount Pictures’ Ben Hur Premiere. In the past, she has served as a marketing and communications executive at the United States Department of Transportation, the Virginia Governor’s office of Economic Development, and at KPMG Global Audit, Tax, and Advisory services firm working on tort reform and crisis communications, among other branding communications for the firm.
7 Questions with Lori Adams-Brown
Name: Lori Adams-Brown
Current title: International Speaker | Coach | Consultant | Podcast Host
Current organisation: Shadowmatch
Lori Adams-Brown is an International Speaker, Coach, Consultant and Podcast Host. Lori has been an Associate Campus Pastor at Echo.Church and Development Director of Echo Compassion in the Bay Area. She served as a career missionary with the International Mission Board for 20 years in Indonesia and Singapore, serving as a Team Leader in both locations. She grew up as an MK (Missionary Kid) in Venezuela, and she met her husband Jason in college, also an MK from Thailand. Lori enjoys discovering and developing leaders, speaking several languages while sharing about God’s love in all of them, and seeing how God is changing lives all around the globe.
She holds an M.A. in Intercultural Studies from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, and has B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from Samford University. She grew up in Valencia, Venezuela where she learned to love city life, island life and merengue and salsa music. Her happy place is sipping a flat white coffee while having a deep conversation or enjoying either a beach or mountain vacation with the love of her life, Jason, and their urbanite TCK kids Nico, Alex and Bella. You can find her podcasting from the Silicon Valley on the A World of Difference podcast.
7 Questions with Jordan Dawson
Name: Jordan Dawson
Current title: Lead Pastor
Current organisation: Church Alive
Lead Pastor of Church Alive in Edmond, OK, Business Broker helping people buy and sell businesses, and Co-Owner of Lemonade House Grille Restaurant. Married my hometown sweetheart for now over 20 years. We have four kids. Originally from Port Charlotte, Florida my wife and I started in ministry in 2006 after I completed my six year commitment to the U.S. Navy where I was a Naval Aircrewman. While in ministry I maintained a fulltime job in Oil & Gas as a management executive. Here I built the largest geological service company in North America and the sixth largest globally with over 500 employees.
7 Questions with Wes Oren
Name: Wes Oren
Current title: Executive Pastor
Current organisation: Rockpoint Church
Married to Paula with three adult children. Studied Chemical Engineering and Business working as Operations Executive. Executive pastor for the past five years and licensed through the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA).
7 Questions with Jeff Baxter
Name: Jeff Baxter
Current title: Next Gen Pastor
Current organisation: Mission Hills Church
Jeff and his beautiful wife Laurie have been married 26 years. They have three wonderful children, Lillian (21), Levi (18) and Lara (13) and an adorable chocolate lab, Lindor.
Their family loves to explore Colorado, especially with a coffee in hand. Jeff can usually be found rooting for the Colorado Rapids Fut'bol Club or other European soccer leagues, if not vicariously playing them on the XBOX.
He has been in full-time ministry inside and outside the local church for over 20 years, primarily in the greater Denver Colorado area. Jeff received degrees in education, theology and leadership, culminating with his D.Min. degree in Family Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. He’s had the pleasure of leading youth and adult teams to over 14 countries, speaking at camps and conferences and authoring books central to the next generation. In the past years, Jeff and Laurie developed a passion for leading teams to Israel and helping people see the Bible come to color. Jeff loves to dream, cast vision and implement strategy in a team environment to reach and keep the next generation for God’s glory.
7 Questions with Mychael Telus
Name: Mychael Telus
Current title: Junior Youth Leader
Current organisation: Presbyterian Church of God, Trinity Congregation, Kwashieman-Accra
Mychael is a wisdom seeker. He is a youthspirator (passionate about inspiring the youth). He is eager about becoming his best self through constant learning and daily evolution.
Ultimately, he is a husband and father.
7 Questions with Matthew Thompson
Name: Matthew Thompson
Current title: Pastor
Current organisation: Trinity Lutheran Church
I was born in San Diego, California. My family and I have served the Lord together from coast to coast. We began ministry in a central Minnesota farming community during the 1980s farm crisis. This city-boy learned a great deal from these God-fearing farmers.
We later followed the Lord's lead as He moved us on to establish congregations near Minneapolis and Orlando. Now our children are grown with their own families. Currently, my wife and I are serving a congregation in the Silicon Valley.
