Connan O’Shea (Senior Pastor)
Connan grew up in Sydney and was saved in his first year at University. He started going to a local church and the Christian group at uni. After studying, he worked as a Veterinarian.
Deciding to spend more time sharing the brilliant news of Jesus, Connan worked at a church in Liverpool for two years (doing the Ministry Training Strategy). And then he went to Moore Theological College to study theology for four years. Being ordained in Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church, he worked as a minister at Richmond Anglican Church and as a Christian Staff worker at University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury Campus), for three years.
Seeing the massive expansion on the Central Coast in the northern region, and having been thinking about planting a church for some years, Connan desired to make the move up north, so as to share the gospel so people could know Jesus.
Connan is married to Belinda and they have three children, Jayden, Joshua and Sarah. Connan enjoys spending time with Belinda, playing with the kids, sport (surfing, water polo and swimming), having friends around, watching Manly win footy, and sitting down with a coffee and reading a book.
Connan oversees Membership and Maturity, and is the main preacher on Sundays.
Matt Rowson (Pastor)
Matt grew up on a chicken farm at Mangrove Mountain on the Central Coast. Having Christian parents was a real blessing, as Matt has always been brought up to know the Lord Jesus.
After starting a Computer Science degree at Newcastle Uni, Matt got a job working for Optus in Sydney and worked there for five years. He then studied theology at Sydney Missionary and Bible College for three years. At the start of his final year at college, Matt and Jill were married.
After college, Matt worked at Drummoyne Presbyterian church for a year and then moved to Brisbane where he was a Youth Pastor for six years. During this time Matt and Jill had two children, Harry and Lily.
At the end of 2008, Matt, Jill and the kids made the move back to the Central Coast to be a part of Northern Lakes Evangelical church looking after the areas of Ministry and Mission.
Matt enjoys watching movies and sport, playing and listening to music, hiking and camping in the great outdoors, spending time with the family, and helping people come to know Jesus and grow in him.
Michael Davis (Ministry Trainee)
Michael grew up in a Christian family in Coffs Harbour. He spent his younger years surfing and playing jazz piano. He grew as a Christian throughout high school before moving to Newcastle to do a business degree.
In 2009 he married Nicole and became part of Northern Lakes Evangelical Church. He now works as a full-time ministry trainee (MTS) at Northern Lakes, and is primarily involved in growing and training youth and young adults to be more like Christ. He enjoys watching AFL, surfing and hanging out with his wife.
Read more: The story of Northern Lakes
