KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
SESSION 1 • Monday 31st August 7pmDr Mark Riessen
As a ministry practitioner for nearly 30 years, Mark has served in lead ministry positions with Churches of Christ congregations in Vic and SA, as well as with the Churches of Christ state ministry team in SA. Mark holds degrees in ministry, theology and governance. His study focus has been in change leadership, spiritual formation, missional innovation, and restoration values & identity. He also brings broad experience to assisting churches with discerning future directions, leadership development and good governance.
Mark is the Academic Program Manager for Ministry Formation with the Australian College of Ministries (ACOM). As part of the academic faculty, Mark teaches in the field of Pastoral Theology, including subject matter in change leadership and restoration history. He is also part of the student engagement team for South Australia. Mark’s role includes being part of the research faculty with the Australian University College of Divinity, where he coordinates the Doctor of Ministry ACOM cohort.
Mark has been involved in not-for-profit organisations as a board director for over 15 years. He is currently a company director for Global Mission Partners and is part of their International Church Partnerships advisory group. He is also Chair of the board for Aldgate Church of Christ. As a Fellow of the Institute of Community Directors Australia, Mark brings some of the most recent insights and ideas through broad networking. He is the author of ‘Movement & Identity: Participating in the life of God’s mission’ and is an editorial board member for the Siburt Institute for Church Health and Ministry in the USA.
Married to Verity for 25 years, they have three teenage children together. Mark loves to Mountain bike, surf, take motorbike road trips, garden, and spend time offering and receiving hospitality with his neighbours.
SESSION 2 • Tuesday 1st September 9amSimon Risson
Simon served in Horsham, regional Victoria, for twenty years, first as an associate and then as the lead pastor for seventeen years. He facilitated change across various aspects, including vision, leadership, and facilities. He contributed to developing the local Carols into a significant community event with local churches. He also served as a Chaplain to the CFA, sporting clubs, and the City Council. Simon is committed to developing multi-generational churches, finding ways to disciple people according to their ages, but always as part of the body of Christ. His goal is to see every ministry working together for a common purpose, without competing, while valuing wisdom, experience, enthusiasm, and courage. Simon aims to bring lessons from different aspects, dynamics, and conversations of leadership to better serve your generational ministries by encouraging shared vision and clearer communication, while honouring the call, gifts, and responsibilities we hold.
Simon has served in local church ministry with a passion for the local community for nearly thirty years, twenty-three with the Horsham Church of Christ. He now serves with the Churches of Christ, Vic/Tas, seeking to encourage, empower, and develop ministers across our movement. Part of this role includes facilitating the accreditation and endorsement of our ministers. He has a deep love for the local church and believes we are being positioned to be a significant voice of compassion, grace and hope in our communities. He has been married to Andrea for thirty-three years, and they have four adult children. Mae is married to Jack, Grace, Lily and Ruby.
SESSION 3 • Tuesday 1st September 7pmLuke Williams
19 years ago sport-addicted and extraverted Luke married book-loving introverted Bella. They have spent their marriage discovering endless ways they’re exactly opposite. Early on this frustrated them, now it’s lots of fun! Their teenage son Ezekiel (Zeke) loves online gaming with his mates and their almost-teenage daughter Nyria (pronounced like the country “Syria”) loves crafting and swimming in the pool with her besties.
Luke is captivated by the Kingdom of God and finding ways to join in on seeing it become a reality “on earth as it is in heaven”. He believes discipleship is our main responsibility as these Kingdom-bringers. He started pastoral ministry in the QLD church he grew up in, then moved to NSW (ie. enemy territory for QLD State of Origin lovers) to continue pastoral ministry. Through this season of ministry, Luke learned (through mistake and failure) that boundaries around his time and relationships are paramount in order to treat those around him well, and ensure long term sustainability for himself.
After 15 years of pastoral ministry Luke needed a break from this work (due to mistakes and failures referenced above), and spent 6 years working in QLD high schools presenting leadership and life skill workshops to students and staff. Now, God has lead Luke back into pastoral work in the QLD church he grew up in and he is loving leading within a community of people that still contains some of the Sunday School teachers he had when he was 6!
Luke is a Pastor-by-nature-not-by-title and a storyteller who is increasingly convinced that questions are better than answers, curiosity is better than certainty, Messi is better than Ronaldo and strawberry milk is better than chocolate milk.