7 Questions with Church leaders

Name: Greg Williams

Current title: President

Current organisation: Grace Communion International

I am a native North Carolinean who has served in GCI in several capacities. In April 2018 GCI Home Office left sunny CA and moved operations to Charlotte NC. My wife Susan and I welcomed this move as it has placed us closer to our adult children and four grandchildren.

Greg has pastored, worked in development and administration and as current President is leading GCI toward their vision of "Healthy Church."

Name: Dr Myk Habets

Current title: Senior Lecturer Theology, Associate Baptist Pastor

Current organisation: Laidlaw College, Albany Baptist Church

Myk is Senior Lecturer in Theology at Laidlaw College. Myk lectures in Systematic Theology and Ethics and has lectured in theology and ethics at the University of Otago and other theological institutions in New Zealand and abroad. He is co-editor of Pacific Journal of Theological Research (Archer Press), Associate Editor of Participation: The Journal of the Thomas Torrance Theological Fellowship, past Co-editor of Journal of Theological Interpretation (Penn State University Press), past Chair of the New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (NZATS), and past Vice-President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools (ANZATS). He has published articles on constructive systematic theology in international journals and has published over twenty books.

Name: Allyson Parker

Current title: Generations Pastor Imagine nations Church, Australian Christian Churches (ACC) National Safer Churches Director, ACC NSW/ACT Kids' Director

Current organisation: ImagineNations Church

Born and raised in country NSW, I came to Sydney to study nursing. I met my husband, James while at University and we have lived in Sydney since then. I spent three years working in Emergency, before becoming a full time Mum. We have three daughters and two grandchildren.

I was born again and began attending church when my first daughter was 6 months old and Ps Jack and Carol Hanes have been my Pastors since then.

I had a very clear call into the Children's Ministry early in my walk with God and this has been my passion since then.

I became the Children's Pastor in 2003 and this year have moved to a Generations Pastor role.

I started training NSW church teams in Safer Churches ministry in 200 9, moved to the State Safer Churches position in 2015 and to the National role in 2019.

I took on the ACC State Kids' Director role at the end of 2019.

I love the privilege of being able to form faith foundations in children, helping them to fall in love with Jesus and His church, then grow them as servant leaders filled with purpose. I love seeing families strong in faith and serving together. I love seeing multiple generations continuing to pursue the call of God, knowing that our ministry had a part to play in that God story.

Name: Professor Silvester Henderson

Current title: Minister of Music/Professor (Tenure)

Current organisation: Palma Ceia Baptist Church/Los Medanos College

Recently elected to receive the A2MEND Educational Leadership Award -2020, Professor Henderson is also the recipient of the Albert Nelson 2019 Marquis “Who’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award”. Professor Silvester Carl Henderson is a nationally recognized Professor, educator, conference motivational speaker, business owner, respected real estate investor, community artistic organizer, musician/artist, internet radio blog personality, and conductor of the Gospel Song.On January 12, 2012, he was presented with the “Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Community Award” from Dow Chemical located in Pittsburg, CA. This award was given to him because of his highly successful efforts in promoting higher education and diversity through the usage of Gospel Music. Moreover, the Professor was the winner of the “Professor of the Year” award for the 2012-2013 academic years, sponsored by the Los Medanos College Academic Senate. Professor Henderson has been the owner of “Mr. Gospel Properties and Investments” for close to three decades. Because of his business acumen, the San Francisco Chronicle honored the Professor with a featured story on August 7, 2012, entitled, “Mr. Gospel lifted by Music, Investments and Houses”. This article is an international publication of his success, business acumen and unstoppable perseverance. Professor Henderson was named "Quarterfinalist" for the International Grammy Association's Music Educator Award, 2014. During the Fall of 2013, he was appointed “Academic Senate President” for Los Medanos College. On April 26, 2014, Professor Henderson was awarded the 2014 “Community Service Award” from the East County Branch of the NAACP. On October 21, 2014, Professor Henderson was presented with the 2014 “Art Recognition Award” from the Contra Costa County Arts and Culture Commission. On July 1, 2016, Professor was voted/appointed as “President” of the “Faculty Senate Coordinating Council” for the Contra Costa Community College District. This position required the Professor to serve as a communication link between the Senates of the participating campuses and the District Chancellor and/or his/her representatives. Professor Silvester Carl Henderson’s educational objective is to ensure a permanent academic home for African American Music within Higher Education. Professor Henderson married during his early twenties. The Professor resides in Pleasanton, California and is the father of three daughters named Carlena, Celisse and Charde.

Name: Stephen Schultz

Current title: Assistant Bishop for Mission -SA-NT District

Current organisation: Lutheran Church of Australia

Born in Adelaide in 1972. Graduated from Adelaide University with a Bachelor of Arts (1991). Graduated from Luther Seminary, North Adelaide (1996) and was ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia in the same year. Served as associate pastor at Bethlehem Church, Adelaide (1997-2002) and lead pastor at St. Michael's, Hahndorf (2002-2017). Have served in current role as the assistant bishop for mission in the SA-NT District of the Lutheran Church of Australia since 2018. Married in 1996 to Jen and have two boys, Josh and Sam.

Name: Ken Kamau

Current title: Senior Pastor / Multiplication Facilitator

Current organisation: Earlwood Baptist Church/ Baptist Association NSW

I am originally from Kenya where I served as lead pastor within the Nairobi Chapel Movement of churches.

As an Accredited Minister with the Baptist Association of NSW & ACT, I currently serve in a dual role as Senior Pastor of Earlwood Baptist Church and Multiplication Facilitator for Church Planting and Revitalization.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Bible & Theology. I am passionate about seeing new kingdom initiatives, multicultural ministry and leadership development. I am a practitioner and have planted churches. I am currently working with other church platers in the Southern Sydney Region and NSW.

I am married to Wacuka who serves as a Chaplain in Age Care. They have two kids Nate who is 15 and Nyambura who is 9.

Name: Joan Macpherson

Current title: Business Manager

Current organisation: St. Paul of the Cross

I have worked for the catholic church for over 15 years. My experience has allowed me to witness the evolution of the role that lay employees play in the running of a parish.

Name: Rt Rev Paul Hendricks

Current title: Auxiliary Bishop

Current organisation: RC Archdiocese of Southwark

First degree in physics. Then I worked for GEC. Felt call to priesthood. Applied to Southwark and sent to study at English College in Rome (1979-85). Assistant priest in Tooting (1985-89). Taught Philosophy in local seminary (1989-99). Parish priest in Peckham (1999-2006). Area Bishop for SW London (2006 onwards). National role: Churches Together and other ecumenical work. Also Co-Chair of Christian-Muslim Forum.

Name: Garry Ansdell

Current title: Senior pastor

Current organisation: Hosanna Christian Fellowship Bellflower

Atheist till 27. Founder of Hosanna 44 yrs ago as a home bible study from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Adopted 5 children now raising 3 grandchildren. Married 55 yrs

Name: Raul Costea

Current title: Pastor and Coordinator

Current organisation: Hope Church

I moved from the northern part of Romania to the southern part of Romania to do missions over 20 years ago. At first, my wife and I took care of a group of orphan girls. Then my team and I, 5 people total, moved to another town and began to evangelize to the people there. These new converts grew and matured and we planted a church there. It is fully functioning and self-sustaining now. A couple years ago, my family and I moved and we began to plant another church in a city in southern Romania. We have a team and are in the beginning stages of that right now. My main focus is evangelism and church-planting.

Name: Perry Blankenship

Current title: Pastor

Current organisation: Fincastle First Church of God

Hello I am the Pastor of Fincastle First Church of God. I have been ministering for 28 years and a pastor 18 of those years. I am a professional counselor of 11 years. I work in a school system as Coordinator of student services, nutrition, attendance, and mental health. I have 8 different degrees.

Name: Kevin Wayne Johnson

Current title: Founder and CEO

Current organisation: The Johnson Leadership Group

Kevin is the Founder and CEO of The Johnson Leadership Group LLC where he leads a team of 7 to facilitate leadership development training and executive coaching for the frontline, mid-level and senior-level workforce with government agencies, corporations, academia and churches. A retired federal government employee after 34 years as a mid-level and senior-level leader, Johnson is a native of Richmond, VA and now resides in Clarksville, MD with his wife and 3 sons. As an ordained minister, he has served in multiple leadership positions at the local, regional, national and international levels, including Senior Pastor.