Sam joined the team in 2018 as one of our inaugural church planting residents in our Planters Academy. Sam is now the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Gold Coast which launched publicly in 2020. Sam has a passion to see people discover the life, joy, and hope that is only found in Jesus. He loves to preach the bible to whoever will listen and is energised by seeing leaders developed and released to use their gifts and passions for God’s glory. Sam is married to Sally and they have three sons Bailey, Hudson and Zion. He is an ordained Anglican Minister.

Joel Deacon is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Wollongong. He is firmly convinced that we are designed for community, especially in a big and sometimes lonely city like Wollongong. Before becoming a pastor, Joel worked as a Civil Engineer and is always up for a chat about roads and bridges. But his greatest passion is talking to people about Jesus. Joel is married to Emma, and they have three kids Elijah, Isaac and Lily. An ideal day off for Joel would include coffee with his wife, smelling flowers with his daughter, wrestling with his boys, reading, and staying up late to watch EPL.

Peter is vicar emeritus at St. Jude’s Carlton, formerly principal of Ridley College Melbourne, and vicar of St. Jude’s. His publications include Speaking God’s Words: A Practical Theology of Preaching, Hearing God’s Words: Exploring Biblical Spirituality, Written for Us: Receiving God’s Words in the Bible, The Message of Malachi, The Majestic Son: The Letter to the Hebrews, Walking in God’s Words: Ezra and Nehemiah and For such a time as this: Esther. He speaks at training conferences for preachers. Peter Adam was a founding member of the Council of The Gospel Coalition Australia.

Leigh and his wife Helen have been married for 45 years. Together they have had 43 years in Baptist Pastoral ministry in both country and city church landscapes. Being farm raised, both Leigh and Helen love animals and country culture. Together they have complemented one another in ministry as a dynamic team. With four children and nine grandchildren, they are now regularly involved in their 'Ma and Pa' roles! Since retiring from full time ministry he has set up a ministry called ‘Roving Revs’ to give encouraging support to Pastors for ministry continuance. He also serves as lay pastor at City on a Hill Melbourne West where his key responsibilities entail praying, mentoring, discipling, showing pastoral care, encouraging evangelism, preaching and teaching and lending support to the pastoral team.

Married to Esther and father of three girls (Evelyn, Audrey and Winifred) Louis is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Surf Coast. The story that God has written for his life has thus far seen him enjoy a country upbringing, service in the army, working as physiotherapist and now most recently completing an MDiv at Ridley College. A few of his many weaknesses include caramel slice, boys toys, and not putting away his shoes.

Andrew is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Geelong. He has spent most of his life as an officer in the Australian Army. Graduating with the Sword of Honour from the Australian Defence Force Academy, he served in Infantry and Intelligence, including operations in East Timor with the commandos. He holds a postgraduate degree in International Relations from Oxford University and an MDiv from Ridley College. Andrew later became an Army Chaplain at the Australian Recruit Training Centre at Kapooka, before leaving the full time Army in 2013 to plant City on a Hill Geelong. Andrew has been married to his beautiful wife Danna for over 20 years and has five young children. He loves the ocean, traveling, camping, playing with his kids (including attending their innumerable sporting matches), and reading military history.

Ben is the Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Ballarat. He grew up in Ireland, North and South, then came to Melbourne with his wife Suja, before moving to Ballarat. He’s an ordained Anglican minister, has been in gospel ministry for more than 10 years, and is passionate about seeing disciples of Jesus made and matured. Ben and Suja have 3 beautiful kids, a little dog and a few precious fish.