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1. What have you found most challenging as a church leader?

Conflict, relationships and competing interests.

2. How did you become a church leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I was chairing a committee for our church’s community care arm when the coordinator resigned. I applied, filled the role for 4 years and then was approached to pastor this church.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Often have a breakfast meeting, walk on the beach and prayer, balance appointments, pastoral care and preparation. If I have an evening meeting I’ll often take from 3pm off.

4. What one book had the most profound impact on your church leadership? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

Discerning God's Will together - Ruth Haley Barton. In my last context we often raced on to serve in the next thing without spending time listening to God's direction. The result was tiredness.

5. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?

We are still building culture. We really are a brand new congregation with people coming from to Christ, from other places and some who have been disenchanted with church. Some have come with agendas to control and influence.

6. How do you develop a healthy leadership pipeline in a church?

We have been in a coaching relationship with an outside consultant and have attempted to have training and mentoring at each step. Being so new we haven't got it all right yet.

7. If you had to pick just one story, what would be the most meaningful story from your time as a church leader so far?

I baptised a guy who had come to us homeless, fresh out of prison, lost in many ways. He found community, friendship, healing, purpose and reconnected with his faith.