Our Team

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Our Team

Dave & Ruth Sheath

Senior Pastor & Women’s Ministry Coordinator

Dave studied at Moore Theological College with his wife Ruth and together they started The Lakes Church in 2001. At The Lakes, Dave leads the staff team and Admin Committee and is the primary preacher on Sundays. He also serves as Secretary on the executive team of our denomination FIEC. Ruth coordinates our women’s ministries and raising up the next generation of gospel workers. Dave and Ruth also mentor pastors and their wives through the Geneva Push network.

Dave and Ruth have three adult children and on their days off they enjoy spending time with their family and taking walks along the beach with their dog Charlie.

Geoff & Robyn Cuschieri

Engaging & Serving Pastor

Geoff became a Christian at university and then worked for a while in finances. Even though he enjoyed that he wanted more people to know how awesome Jesus is and to put their faith in him. He then studied at Moore Theological College and has since been a pastor in Sydney, as well as overseas in Malta for 13 years with CMS. Geoff joined The Lakes pastoral team in 2021 as our Engaging and Serving Pastor.

Geoff is married to Robyn and they have three teenage children. They love meeting people, having people over for meals, watching movies and having a good laugh.

Geoff & Robyn Cuschieri

Engaging & Serving Pastor

Geoff is married to Robyn and they have three teenage children. They love meeting people, having people over for meals, watching movies and having a good laugh.

Thomas & Laura McConaghey

Connecting & Ministry Support Pastor

Thomas grew up in a Christian family on the Central Coast. After completing a ministry apprenticeship working with uni students in Newcastle, he went on to complete a Bachelor of Theology at Moore Theological College. He has been attending The Lakes since 2011 and joined the staff team in 2017.

Half of Thomas’ role at The Lakes involves facilitating hospitality and care within our church community and helping new people connect and make friends at church. He also oversees the areas of our church that support our various ministries, such as administration, property and finances. He is married to Laura and has four children and a border collie. A self-professed nerd, Thomas enjoys electronics, science fiction, and board games in his free time.

Peter & Sonya Cheng

Kids, Youth & Young Adults Pastor

Pete first came to Christ as a teenager after his friend invited him along to a church youth group. For this reason he has a real heart for raising up and growing the next generation of disciples. At The Lakes, Pete is responsible for our kids, youth and young adult ministries and has been in this role since 2012. Pete studied at Moore Theological College and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to train alongside like-minded people.

Pete is married to Sonya and they have four children. Sonya serves in a number of different ways but has a significant role within our Kids Church ministry. Pete is a sports fan in general but most recently has become a mad keen cyclist.

Peter & Sonya Cheng

Kids, Youth & Young Adults Pastor

Mel Clement

Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Mel grew up on the Central Coast and has been a member of The Lakes since 2009. She completed her three-year MTS (Ministry Training Strategy) apprenticeship in 2020 and currently oversees our Children’s Ministry which involves ministry to children, families and women.

Mel loves encouraging children to grow and connect with one another, as well as seeing families equipped to raise their children to know and love Jesus. She is also studying for an Advanced Diploma of Theology through Moore Theological College. In her downtime Mel loves spending time with friends and family, and a good cup of tea.

Susie Schubert

Chinese Ministry Coordinator

Susie migrated to Australia from mainland China in 2008 and became a Christian the following year. She came to The Lakes in 2011 and volunteered helping our Chinese members to know and follow Jesus. For three years Susie worked as a ministry apprentice at The Lakes through MTS (Ministry Training Strategy), growing in her conviction, character and competence as a cross-cultural gospel worker.

Susie has worked as our Chinese Ministry Coordinator since 2018 and is the primary translator for our 10:30am Sunday service. Susie is married to Terry and they have two children. She loves shopping and eating yummy Chinese food in Chinatown.

Susie Schubert

Chinese Ministry Coordinator

Since 2018 Susie has worked as our Chinese Ministry Coordinator and is the primary translator for our 10:30am Sunday service. Susie is married to Terry and they have two children. She loves shopping and eating yummy Chinese food in Chinatown.

Joel Fletcher

MTS Apprentice

Joel became a Christian while studying a Bachelor of Ancient History at Macquarie Uni. In 2018 after a period of 3 years of gaining confidence in the historical accuracy of the Bible and wrestling with who Jesus was, that Joel decided to follow Jesus as Lord. He was invited to The Lakes by a Christian friend at uni. Joel joined The Lakes team as an MTS apprentice in 2021 where he is involved with youth and young adult ministry, as well as high school SRE. He is excited to be trained for a lifetime of ministry!

Joel is engaged to Samantha and they both love walking in nature and looking for cool plants! Joel enjoys reading, playing guitar and listening to his record player.

Erin Roberts

MTS Apprentice

Erin started attending The Lakes in 2016 while commuting from Sydney. She moved permanently to the Central Coast in 2018 and is now married to Ben. Erin has a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and started her two-year MTS apprenticeship at The Lakes in 2021.

Erin is involved in ministry to children, youth, young adults and women at The Lakes. She enjoys being part of the ministry team and seeing the gospel spread out across the coast. In her spare time, Erin loves watching Disney movies and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Erin Roberts

MTS Apprentice

Kathy Lian

Office & Pastoral Team Assistant

Kathy left her home church in Sydney to join The Lakes in 2013 as she and her husband Jun were already volunteering in Chinese ministry and serving new Chinese Christians on the Central Coast. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and has 20 years of experience in office and human resources administration.

Kathy joined our staff team in 2015, managing the office, overseeing all the administrative functions and working alongside the pastoral team and volunteers in various ministries. She loves cooking, eating and taking photos of food!

Andrea Groves

Personal Assistant to David Sheath

Andrea has been at The Lakes since 2011 after to moving to the Central Coast from Sydney. She is married to Anthony and they have two sons, Sebastian and Caleb. After working in various administrative capacities for many years, Andrea now enjoys working part time as David Sheath’s personal assistant.

In her spare time Andrea enjoys spending time with her two dogs at the beach, reading and photography.

Andrea Groves

Personal Assistant to David Sheath

Andrea has been at The Lakes since 2011 after to moving to the Central Coast from Sydney. She is married to Anthony and they have two beautiful sons, Sebastian and Caleb. After working in various administrative capacities for many years, Andrea now enjoys working part time as David Sheath’s personal assistant.

In her spare time Andrea enjoys spending time with her two dogs at the beach, reading and photography.

Marnie Hanlon

Communications Coordinator

Marnie has been a member of The Lakes since 2008. She completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Graphic Design) at Wesley Institute in 2003 and has since worked as a graphic designer in various paid and voluntary positions in Australia and overseas. She has been volunteering as a graphic designer at The Lakes for many years but joined our staff team in 2019.

Marnie is responsible for overseeing our website, social media, photography and promotions. She loves jigsaw puzzles and owns a small dog that looks like Hairy Maclary.