Snr. Pastor David Lovell.

Pastor Dave was raised on a wheat / sheep farm in North Central Victoria, half-way between the towns of Boort and Wycheproof. After finishing Year 12, he completed an Associate Diploma of Applied Science before returning to work on the family farm. In 1992, he packed his bags and moved to Chicago (USA) to study at Moody Bible Institute. He completed a Bacheolor of Arts - Bible  in 1997. During this time he met and married Julie and alongside of his studies worked full-time as Pastor of Student Ministries at the Camarillo Evangelical Free Church in Southern California. He was a part of this ministry team for four years.

In 1999, Dave accepted a call from Bendigo Baptist Church to join their ministry team as an Associate Pastor: Youth.  Dave, Julie and their children arrived at Bendigo Baptist in December 1999.  Dave has performed various roles within this ministry team during this period of time.  In May 2006, Dave was appointed as Senior Pastor at Bendigo Baptist Church.

Dave is married to Julie, and they have 4 school-age children, Jesse, Zak, Chloe and Jacob. In his spare time he loves to play golf, read, spend time with his family and avidly follow the Essendon Football Club. He completed his Master's degree in Christian Ministry in 2011.

Pastor Stephen Emonson

While born and bred in Victoria, Steve spent nearly six years over west in Perth, during which time he completed a four-year Bachelor of Ministry degree at Perth Bible College and began work in church-based youth ministry. In 1999 Steve married his lovely Sheriden. After returning to Victoria in 2003, Steve continued serving in youth ministry at churches in Castlemaine and Maldon. In 2005 Steve accepted the call to come on to the ministry team here at BBC, serving as Associate Pastor for Youth and Young Adults.

Steve enjoys family time with Sheriden and his girls. Kezia and Adah. He also enjoys walking, swimming, gardening and painting.

Pastor David Gillet

Dave is at Bendigo Baptist Church with a passion to help the church effectively bring the message of Jesus to children in a way they can understand, be excited by and embrace for themselves. He grew up on a farm on the West Coast of South Australia, in an encouraging family and church environment for which he is very grateful.  After getting a degree in Natural Resource Management in 1994, he enjoyed working in agricultural research for a number of years.  In 2001, Dave and his wife Alison felt God was leading them on an adventure to London to study at Bible College.  After study at Cornhill Training Course, Dave accepted a pastoral position at Rayners Lane Baptist Church, which became focused on youth and children.  To their surprise, Dave & Alison stayed longer than they expected and became a bit English as they formed strong relationships with people in London but they finally left in January 2011.
At this time they returned to Bendigo, with a few children added to the mix, as Dave took up the new role of Children’s Pastor at Bendigo Baptist.  Dave is excited about being a part of the Bendigo Baptist church family, and the Bendigo community.  He enjoys all sorts of sport, outdoor activities and sharing life with friends and family.

Pastor Leighton Gates

Leighton grew up on a dairy farm at Invergordon, 25k’s North East of Shepparton and went to the Shepparton Church of Christ. His first music lessons were on the banjo-mandolin at 8 yrs but it was the guitar that really caught his attention. When he started playing live music it became apparent that the behind-the-scenes side of music was just as rewarding. Leighton has spent the last 18yrs (up to the end of 2010) building and overseeing the technical direction of Bayside Church, Cheltenham, the last  8 of those in a full time position as Technical Director. This included the development of Bayside TV, now in its 13th series and the recording and mixing of Bayside Church’s “Unashamed” Praise and Worship CD/DVD.“The call to Bendigo Baptist Church had an interesting sound and our response to that sound as a family has been resoundingly positive. I bring a lifetime of skills and experience to share and implement in this new era. My family and I look forward to achieving great things for our Living God as we continue to respond to His call daily.”

Matt Parkinson - Community Care Director

Matt's position as Community Care Director is a newly created role in direct response to the Church's desire to reach out to the people of Bendigo.

Matt was born in Melbourne and moved to Bendigo in 1981. He is married to Sue and has a daughter at university and twin boys in secondary college. With 8 years in small business and many years involved in community service and pastoral care, Matt has a heart to reach out to all people of Bendigo, especially the vulnerable within the community.

Carolyn Marriot - Administrator

Carolyn grew up in Melbourne's western suburbs and has a background in Early Childhood and Primary teaching.  She has previously worked in kindergartens, schools and the childcare sector. After marrying a farmer she spent 16 years on a dairy farm in North East Victoria before moving to Bendigo in 2008 with her husband and 3 children.  “In being appointed administrator I feel privileged to be able to serve as part of a team within the church and provide administrative support to the various ministry areas and their leaders, along with the church family and our surrounding community. I look forward to what God has in store for Bendigo Baptist Church.”

Jenny McWilliam - Admin Assistant

Jenny has been a member of Bendigo Baptist Church for nearly 20 years, since moving with her husband Bruce and children to Axedale in 1991 from Melbourne's western suburbs. Jenny is an Occupational Therapist by profession but has been, for many years, a stay at home mum by choice, home educating her 4 children (Samantha, Stephanie, Scott & Spencer) and being involved in the local and church communities through the kindergarten association and Girls' Brigade, CRE and other children's ministries. Over the years she has picked up many skills around computers, IT and websites, as well as having training in OHS thorugh the kindergarten association. In the last 2 years she has been involved in strategic planning for Girls' Brigade at both a state and national level. Jenny brings a wealth of skills and a passion to serve to the role of admin assistant.

Joy Watters - Book-keeper

Joy is the eldest of four children from a farming family near Wycheproof, and began working life in the local Shire Office. At the age of 20 she moved to Melbourne and completed a Diploma of Theology at the Melbourne Bible Institute (now Bible College of Victoria).  This was followed by marriage to Geoff, employment with the Australian Religious Film Society, and the birth of three sons

Over the next 25 years Joy owned and operated a retail soft furnishing business in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and was actively involved at the Blackburn South Baptist Church (now Crossway Baptist).

In 1992, looking for a "tree change" Geoff and Joy moved to Bendigo, commenced a wholesale curtain hardware business,which was sold after eight years and a retail prospecting supplies outlet (now operated by a family member).  She held the position of Administrator at BBC for 4 years and now does book- keeping for the church in a voluntary capacity.

 Louise Nott - Playgroup Co-ordinator

Louise has a degree in Education - early Childhood. She moved from kindergarten teaching to her role as playgroup ministry worker in 2006. She is married to Peter and has two children of school age. Louise has a passion for seeing Mums of preschoolers come into God's family and see them supported in the years when their children are young.

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