7 Questions with Church leaders

Name: Richard Coombs

Current title: Australian Director; Teaching Pastor

Current organisation: MECO (Middle East Christian Outreach) Australia; Wattle Park Chapel

Brought up in Christian family as 'Preacher's Kid'. Theological training through NZ Baptist Theological College(1977-80). Pastored two churches in NZ (1980-88); two in Melbourne (1988-2002); MECO Australia (2002 - present); Teaching Pastor (2018 - present). Also Chairman of Belgrave Heights Convention.

Married to Margaret. Three married sons - two in ministry.

Enjoys reading, cricket, golf and rugby union.

Name: Ric

Current title: Senior Pastor

Current organisation: Strong Nation Church

Born 1966 into a rural family, with one older brother, mum and dad (still together after 58 years).

Move to the city as a 6 year old and raised in Penrith.

Became part of Ps Gordon Gibbs' fellowship which grew to be Penrith Christian Life Centre (now Imaginations Church). As a teenager, I was born again and become one of youth leadership team, under the leadership of Ps Steve Kelly. Dad became the pastor overseeing Pastoral Care for 25 years, and becoming an adult I volunteered a day to assist him.

Married Naomi (nee Thornton) in 1989 and began our family 1992.

1997 the new pastor Ps Jack Hanes offered me the role of Youth Pastor; an office i held for 10 years.

Through a burden for true discipleship, our ministry grew to over 800 young people attending small groups and our Friday night youth service weekly.

2007 I was offered the Senior Pastor role at Hawkesbury Church in Windsor NSW. Hawkesbury Church was renamed Strong Nation Church in 2012 and in the last 7 years we have planted churches in Springwood NSW, Jordan Springs NSW, and Cambodia.

We have 5 children born between 1992 and 2004, 3 daughters in law, and 6 amazing grandchildren. Our adult children are all in ministry fulfilling pastoring and chaplaincy roles.

Name: James Ayodeji AKANDE

Current title: Pastor

Current organisation: The Redeemed Christian Church Of God Lighthouse Queensland

James Ayodeji Akande is a servant of the most high who is passionate about serving God, loves sharing the word of God and believes in the efficacy of prayer.

He is married to Abimbola Akande and blessed with two children; Samuel & Shalom.

He’s a Network Engineer by profession.

Name: Ron Simms

Current title: National Leader

Current organisation: The Full Gospel Churches of Australia

Ron placed his faith in Christ in 1972. He joined the local Methodist church and later a Pentecostal church. Ron joined Full Gospel in 1989 as the pastor of a local fellowship. Ron has, over the years, served in a variety of ministry-focussed positions from youth work to missions, in local churches and para-church organisations. He has taught in Bible colleges and ministry training schools as well as engaging in a number of successful businesses. He currently serves with his wife, Justine providing support and member care for pastors throughout Australia and is the Dean of the College of Ministry Leadership.

Ron holds a master’s in ministry with a major in Leadership (Harvest), an Executive Master of Business, Leadership through Coaching and Mentoring (EMBA - LCAM) from Queensland University of Technology [QUT], and an Executive Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (QUT).

Ron and Justine have two adult children, four grandchildren and two little white fluffy door-bells (dogs). Ron enjoys sudoku, writing and people.

Name: Mark Macakay

Current title: Senior Pastor

Current organisation: Forest Lake Baptist Church

Married to Catherine with 4 kids, I grew up in a Christian home but didn't really personalise my faith until my late teens. I've been a pastor at Forest Lake Baptist for 15 years and, before that I worked as a Chartered Accountant.

Name: Geoff Folland

Current title: Team Leader

Current organisation: Power to Change Australia

Geoff grew up in the Hills District of Sydney's northwest attending Epping Gospel Chapel. Always driven to be a high achiever, he went to James Ruse Ag High School, studied a B.Ec at Sydney Uni, and qualified as a Chartered Accountant while working for one of the Big Four firms.

In 1995, he returned to Power to Change and served at Macquarie Uni from 1995 to 2008, except for a one year stint in Boulder, CO in 1998/9. This allowed him to get to know the rest of his wife's (Liz) family following the tragic death of her mum. He moved into a state leadership role while completing his M.Div at Denver Seminary in 2010. He returned to a direct campus team leader role in 2014, leading the PTC team at Sydney Uni and Notre Dame. He finished that role at the end of 2020 and moves to Melbourne for a national leadership role in 2021. Geoff married Liz in July 1997, and they adopted two children from the Philippines (Philip, 19 and Katrise 15)

Name: Matt Anstey

Current title: Pastor

Current organisation: Kruger Parade Baptist Church

I love Jesus, my family & my church, plus a healthy side love of footy, running and action movies! 8 years pastoring Kruger Baptist in Ipswich, 7 years on the Gold Coast as a Youth Pastor and 10 years designing roads. Married for 21 years to my beautiful wife and we have 3 kids in high school.

Name: Aleisha Reader-White

Current title: Director

Current organisation: Equipped for Grace

A bit about me - I love family! And I want everyone to have an amazing family to return to at the end of the day, so I’ve dedicated my life to serving others in this capacity. My company, Equipped for Grace, is dedicated to developing resources for churches, equipping our amazing people to deal with life’s toughest situations, child protection, domestic violence, suicide and self-harm, mental health issues etc. I love it!

I am a mum of two, wife to a beautiful man and love a good chat.

I am the typical eldest child, always organized, on time and studious. I love organisation!

At age 19, I was working in the finance and the entertainment industry and finding little to no satisfaction from all its attention, glitz, glamour and glory. So I started to attend church, but It wasn’t until I went on a mission trip to South Africa that I decided this is what I wanted my life to be that life really started. So what else to do…but quit my job, pack up everything and start on a new journey. In this time, I completed a Bachelor of Justice and Legal Studies, Graduate Diploma in Psychology and commenced working in the criminal justice sector, where I was for over 12 years.

Name: Miriam Gluyas

Current title: Divisional Commander (NSW/ACT)

Current organisation: The Salvation Army

I was born into an amazing family, who told me that I could do anything and be anything. I was well loved, beautifully cared for, wanted for nothing, and have known Jesus for as long as I can remember. I thought that I would be a professional golfer, and sports teacher, but felt called by God to be a Salvation Army officer. What a journey that has been. I have served in Australia and PNG, had amazing opportunities in all of those places, in church planting, multicultural ministry, youth and children’s ministry, and supporting and resourcing our people. I have seen God do amazing things. I continue to believe that God will grow His church. I am single, love my nieces and nephews - I get to take them to all kinds of exciting places, and am blessed to still have my mum and dad alive. I have lived a blessed life, and continue to live by my mission statement of live (life to the full), love (God, others, self) and make a difference (in someone’s life every day)

Name: Shirleen M Johnson-Cook

Current title: Bishop

Current organisation: No Bounds Ministries, Spirit Alive Ministries, GAP Ministries

I am a licensed and ordained woman of God that only wants to aid the Lord in the transformation of His people. I own and operate a global Christian Podcast Network; Spirit Alive

Name: John Peberdy

Current title: Chairman

Current organisation: CMA

I am a layperson who has served in the Australian Christian Community for many years - at my local Church and on Boards of Christian Organisations

Name: Amanda Saenz

Current title: Pastor

Current organisation: CityLife Church

Amanda has served the local church in various staffed leadership roles for over 8 years. Through each role, it is clear that Amanda is passionate about seeing the church be a movement of fully alive Jesus Christ followers who have an understanding of the role they fill in bringing heaven to earth. Amanda is driven to see Christians be the church 7 days a week in whatever context God has them and bring the hands and feet of Jesus to whoever they meet. With a clear understanding of the love and acceptance given to her by Jesus, she desires to see the church help others experience that same love and acceptance Christ gives us.

Most importantly, she is wife to the most beautiful human being, Will, and mother of the most ridiculously adorable little boys, Jai (5) and Asher (3). It's at home that Amanda believes that ministry first starts.