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My Vocation

Objectives

To lead a growing, dynamic and missional Christian community in Sydney, Australia.  To use my experience, creativity and gifts to mentor leaders towards a legacy of natural and helpful mission and ministry that cooperates with and is led by God in his mission.  To support families and their children, youth and young adults, as well as personal development and health promotion.

Executive Summary

An experienced missional pastor who relates comfortably with others, regardless of age, position, gender, and cultural background; demonstrating insight and innovation when developing natural and helpful strategies for mission, emphasising wholeness, community service and cultural engagement; utilising Human Behaviour Science for personal, leadership, and team development training, coaching, and consulting; and, presenting a solid record of accomplishments and contributions in:

  • preaching and teaching in both small and large groups
  • seminar, workshop, and retreat presentations
  • designing strategy and curriculum
  • volunteer management
  • Leader and leadership development;
  • facilitating networking between churches and with neighbourhood organisations
  • music and worship leading
  • desktop publishing and website design

Employment

Associate Paster for Youth & Young Adults (2010-present)
St. John’s Sutherland (Anglican) Church – Sutherland, NSW, Australia

  • Established a focus group towards the development of the Sunday evening church service towards being relevant and helpful to youth and young adults
  • Established Youth Mission Team and directed the development of youth drop-in centre
  • Established partnerships with local community services, schools and local businesses for the purposes of supporting youth in the Sutherland Shire
  • Established a partnership with a concert promoter to provide Band Nights in the Sutherland Shire for new and upcoming young bands
  • Oversaw the development of community forums outreach
  • Taught Special Religious Education classes (Year 6) in local public schools and established lunchtime outreach (new for 2012)

Senior Minister (2009-2010)
Austral Church of Christ – Austral, NSW, Australia

  • Established a partnership with local business owner and newspaper towards the provision of a community Christmas festival
  • Developed a comprehensive volunteer management strategy
  • Developed Vision, Mission and Values statements

Senior Minister 2004-2009
Hurstville Church of Christ – Hurstville, NSW, Australia

  • Developed a successful outreach strategy for young families which included a successful playgroup and parenting courses
  • Developed a public seminars series and public market stall outreach
  • Organised Christmas events around a public festival/picnic model
  • Established Renovaré spiritual formation groups

Associate Minister for Youth & Outreach 2000-2004
Parkwood Presbyterian Church – Ottawa, ON, Canada

  • Coordinated youth service initiative to homeless at urban coffeehouse/drop-in centre
  • Developed summer youth outreach program using sports/recreation and small-group  discussion groups
  • Successfully carted two vans of youth and chaperones 800kms to Christian music festival in south Pennsylvania and back!
  • Established youth indoor games outreach at local public school
  • Coordinated inter-generational social and worship events
  • Supervised ministry interns and co-operative education students
  • Chaired focus groups towards evaluating and developing church ministries and outreach programs
  • Participated in committees discussing church response to issues of social and political concern
  • Chaired regional youth minister’s fraternal association
  • Organised regional youth leaders conference

Focus-Group/Support-Group Facilitator 2000-2003
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario – Ottawa, ON, Canada

  • Facilitated focus-groups in public schools and community centres promoting youth mental health and identifying youth-at-risk for suicide
  • Facilitated support-group in community centre focussing on peer reflection and feedback among youth identified as at-risk for suicide

Youth Ministry Resource Associate/Consultant 1998-1999
Salvation Army Ontario South Divisional Youth Department – Hamilton, ON, Canada

  • Oversaw volunteer team of young adults from various churches towards providing large (100+ youth) drop-in centre program at community hall in Dundas, ON, Canada
  • Developed regional youth leaders training program
  • Developed regional evangelistic event

Associate Minister for Youth & Children 1996-1998
St. John’s Uniting Church Wahroonga – Wahroonga, NSW, Australia

Associate Pastor for Youth & Young Adults 1994-1996
Salvation Army Parramatta Corps/Community Church – Parramatta, NSW, Australia

Associate Minister for Youth 1991-1992
Kingston Korean Church – Kingston, ON, Canada

Education

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate 2010 to present
University of Western Sydney – Sydney, NSW, Australia

  • Completing a course of research in the sociology of religious conversion
  • Expected completion date: 2015

Master-Certified Human Behaviour Consultant 2006
Leadership Institute of America/Uniquely You Ministries – Blue Ridge, GA, USA

  • Certified to facilitate personality profiling
  • Specialisation in Leadership and Membership Assimilation

Master of Arts (Mission Studies) 2004
Saint Paul University/University of Ottawa – Ottawa, ON, Canada

  • Concentration of study on Cultural Analysis and World Religions
  • Electives in Theology and Philosophical Counselling

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) 2000
Queen’s University – Kingston, ON, Canada

  • Electives in Theology, Religious Studies, and Philosophy

Additional Experience

Residential Intensive (Tutorial) Facilitator
Australian College of Ministries – Sydney, NSW, Australia

Seminar & Workshop Presenter
Canada and Australia

  • Blackstump Music & Arts Festival (Sydney:2007)
  • SoulFest Music & Arts Festival (Ottawa:2003)
  • Salvation Army Divisional Youth Councils (Toronto:2000; Kingston:2002)
  • Exousia youth leaders conference (Ottawa: 2000)
  • Equip church ministries conference (Burlington:1999 & 2000)
  • Deeper Roots youth leaders conference & retreat (Hamilton: 1999)

Author

  • Have published a number of articles in the Australian Christian and other periodicals
  • Maintain an online portfolio of my writings

Network Coordinator 2001-2004
Exousia Youth Minister’s Fraternal Network – Ottawa, ON, Canada

Prison Chaplain 1993-1994
Salvation Army Correctional & Justice Services – Kingston, ON, Canada

  • Provided chaplaincy services to four correctional institutions (all security levels)

Residential Care Worker 1989-1994
Christian Horizons – Hamilton & Kingston, ON, Canada

  • Assisted general functioning of residential group homes for developmentally-handicapped youth and adults by providing care for residents and reinforcing client programs

Host/Producer 1990-1994
Alternative Edge Productions – Kingston, ON, Canada

  • Promoted Alternative & Progressive Gospel Music through production of weekly radio (CFRC-FM, Queen’s University Radio) and television programs (Channel 13 Kingston), concert promotion, and fan newsletter

Telephone Counsellor 1987-1988
Salvation Army Suicide Prevention Hotline – Hamilton, ON, Canada

Other Interests and Skills

  • I run for fitness, having accomplished my first marathon in Canberra this year and completed the 2011 OXFAM Sydney Trailwalkers 100km walk.
  • I play the guitar and drums, and enjoy listening to an eclectic mix of musical styles.
  • I enjoy coffee and gourmet cooking, sampling a variety of international cuisines.
  • I enjoy travel and outdoor adventure, having completed my first (and probably last) tandem skydive in 2009 and will become certified in SCUBA this year.
  • I enjoy the open road on my 1999 Harley-Davidson XL1200S (Sportster) motorcycle and riding with a Christian motorcycle club in mission among lifestyle motorcyclists.
  • I enjoy living and dreaming with my wife Marcia, spending time with and watching my children, Joëlle and Owen, blossom as children of God.