Director
(Editor Emeritus)
Rev Bob Thomas
Email: revbobthomas@gmail.com
Phone: 0417 592 646
Rev Bob Thomas will retire as senior editor of New Life Australia from Easter 2022. Prior to coming to New Life in July 1988, Bob was editor of the denominational journal Australian Presbyterian Life. He has also served as minister of several parishes in NSW and Victoria, most notably in St Kilda-Balaclava.
Bob has served two terms as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and from 2004-2007 served as Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. His much-loved and recently written autobiography, ‘All My Hope’, is inspirational. Audiences love Bob for his passion, jovial humour and care for people. New Life Australia celebrates Bob and gives thanks for his commitment to quality journalism, longevity and legacy that will sit as a cherished pearl of great value. Bob will continue to support and occasionally write for New Life Australia amidst a still-busy schedule.
Doug has served in youth and young adult leadership and pastoral ministries over many years, primarily within cross-cultural contexts. Today, he serves as a Chaplain in schools and his local Church community, mentoring young leaders. He has also served on the leadership with a team for an NFP ministry called Benwerren from 2014 through 2021.
In 2004 Doug completed a (B.min) major in Missiology, Comparative Religions, Cross-Cultural Communications and more recently, in Feb 2020, completed a ‘Master of Arts’ in Ministry at the Melbourne School of Theology. Learnings included Mission Leadership, Globalisation, Diaspora Studies and Pastoral Ministry.
Doug is a fully committed follower of Jesus Christ and passionately seeks to win hearts for the Kingdom; he is a creative and consultative leader who enjoys investing in the lives of younger generations and seeing others empowered to serve Jesus and see Him glorified in our world.
He also enjoys teaching God’s Word, Arts, Media, and Cycling, Travelling to far places to share God’s Word.
Rachael was born and raised in country Victoria and moved to Melbourne for university. She was raised Catholic and came to profess Christ as her Lord and Saviour during her involvement in the Christian Union at university.
Rachael studied occupational therapy and loves working in community aged care, as well as administration for New Life. She is married to Joshua, and they enjoy serving together with their local Presbyterian Church in the outer northern suburbs. Rachael enjoys jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku in her spare time.
Sondy Ward was born in Penrith, NSW, and grew up in Sydney before moving to Melbourne. She found Jesus as the centre of her life and later married Rob, raised two children and enjoyed family and friendships throughout this season. Sondy completed a B.A at Deakin University (major in English Literature and extended major in Visual Arts) and a Graduate Diploma Arts (in Art and Community Development) at Eastern College. She worked in various corporate roles before sensing God turn her heart toward Christian missions from early 2000 (including roles at Cross-Culture, OMF, gO! Explo, Ramabai Mukti Mission and Reach Beyond). She supported these organisations as a P.A in administration, events, speaking, editing and writing.
Until August 2021, Sondy was CEO of God’s Dreaming (an NFP organisation)that began when she was asked to co-coordinate a collaborative work between indigenous and non-indigenous Australian Christian artists, which inspired the production and showcase of 17 artworks depicting the redemptive story of the Christian Bible.
Sondy loves people and reading, tells terrible jokes, is a painter, published poet, keen cook and gardener and runs workshops inspiring creativity, community and outreach for various groups.
Dan has a passion and calling in his life to lead the next generation into God’s kingdom to create beautiful art that inspires and shapes people; to bridge the gaps between generations and cultures.
Dan has been an inspirational leader assisting in Melbournes’ RICE movement as an intern but has recently launched into new creative spaces. He desires to see a new generation discipled and relevant. He has been deeply involved as a worship and youth director for his Church at Australia Myanmar Evangelical Church for over eight years, mentoring and nurturing young talent and newcomers to our shores for the first time.
You can learn more about Dan here; https://afterhourscreative.com.au/about-us
Al Watson
Managing Director (Chair)
What can I say about myself?
I have been walking with Jesus for 54 years and there are things that I have engaged in that could be seen as “gold, silver and precious stones” and sadly many things that will be revealed as “wood, hay and stubble” But I know that He began a good work in me, will keep it going until it’s time for me to end. I live to create a passion for God through His Word, that’s why I rebirthed Walk Thru the Bible Australia 9 years ago and serve as its CEO. As Chairman of the New Life Board, I have the joy of encouraging the team to nurture that same passion. One wife (Judy) and three children, all married and six grandchildren, and generational faith is so encouraging.
Rev Bob Thomas
(Exec) Editor & Director
Rev Bob Thomas will retire as senior editor of New Life Australia from Easter 2022. Prior to coming to New Life in July 1988, Bob was editor of the denominational journal Australian Presbyterian Life. He has also served as minister of several parishes in NSW and Victoria, most notably in St Kilda-Balaclava.
Bob has served two terms as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and from 2004-2007 served as Moderator General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia. His much-loved and recently written autobiography, ‘All My Hope’, is inspirational. Audiences love Bob for his passion, jovial humour and care for people. New Life Australia celebrates Bob and gives thanks for his commitment to quality journalism, longevity and legacy that will sit as a cherished pearl of great value. Bob will continue to support and occasionally write for New Life Australia amidst a still-busy schedule.
Ben Williams
Director
Ben serves as the Administration Manager of a suburban Melbourne K-12 Christian school, with responsibility for its Human Resources, community engagement, marketing and enrollments operations. He previously held research and administrative leadership roles in Canberra with a leading national Christian not-for-profit organisation. A trained teacher, Ben holds postgraduate qualifications in educational leadership from NICE and is completing an MBA with CHC. A self-declared “worldview nerd”, he loves long walks with the family dog whilst listening to a selection of Christian podcasts. Ben, his wife, Kate, and their two sons fellowship at their local Presbyterian Church, where he serves on the Board of Management as Secretary.
Ian Mitchell
Director
Ian Mitchell was born and raised in Melbourne before moving to Perth and later New Zealand. Ian and his wife Cris of 47 years became Christians after being married for several years and then had two sons, with their daughter arriving soon after. Their first four years of Christian fellowship were as part of a small community Church in Melbourne, followed by thirteen years at Mentone Baptist and a further thirteen years at Clayton Christ of Christ. Ian served at both Churches as elder and board [or council] member, as Chair at Clayton for six years and on the Board of Soul Rest Inc., for six years. He has worked in his own businesses for most of his working life, in the recorded music industry, garden decoration and more recently, in the healthcare sector. The family is now part of a ‘Basic Church’ network meeting group in their home.
Dr Allan Meyer
