Staff Team
Working together to grow followers of Jesus
Sam McGeown
Sam was born and raised in Belfast, Northern Ireland and still hasn't lost his accent. He spent twelve years in Osaka, Japan where he taught English, directed a Black Gospel Choir, worked with the homeless, planted a church and – as that wasn’t enough – also met his wife Yoriko. Sam has also pastored a church in Melbourne and worked with mission agencies around the world. Sam and Yoriko have four children whose names mean ‘grace’ in four different languages. In his spare time, he doubles as a Brad Pitt lookalike.
Sam can be contacted at sam.mcgeown@vc.org.au
Chandra Smith
Chandra grew up in Stanthorpe but more recently spent 13 years living in Ecuador. She loves coffee, reading, cooking, board games, and baking—including making a mean Persian love cake. Chandra is our full-time children and women’s worker at Village. She loves seeing children learn to live for Jesus, as well as journeying alongside her Christian sisters in their walks with Christ. If you’re ever keen to help out with children’s ministry, or if you’re a woman at Village who wants a chat over coffee, Chandra’s keen to chat to you. Extra points if you can ask her in Spanish.
Chandra can be contacted at chandra.smith@vc.org.au
Jeremy Wales
Jeremy and his family have been attending Village for a couple of years. Jeremy loves protein, hobbits and Isaiah, sometimes at the same time. Jeremy is over-seeing our church services, and all things community for our church family.
You can contact Jeremy at jeremy.wales@vc.org.au
Tony Hodge
Tony & Rhonda moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in 2019 and have been part of Village Church since then. They have one adult daughter who still lives in Melbourne. Tony had the privilege of being in pastoral ministry for fifteen years prior to their relocation where they led and established a church plant from 2008 to 2018. He now works four days a week as our handy-dandy Village Church/Mosaix Admin guru and Accounts dogsbody. Tony loves and plays music and loves travelling so much that you’ll often find him & Rhonda at the airport eight hours before take-off (jokes!).
Tony can be reached at tony.hodge@vc.org.au
Philip McGann
Philip studied creative writing at QUT and became a Christian through uni ministry in the third year of his degree. He’s always working on some new book, when he has the time. On any given work day you might find him Photoshopping people's faces into the weekly newsletter, working on Community Group studies, doing graphic design jobs, helping to write and edit our current teaching series, or helping to lead the young adults group with his lovely wife, Serena.
Philip can be contacted at philip.mcgann@vc.org.au
Peter Lloyd
Peter has been a trainee with us for a few months, working two days a week. You might find him doing anything from graphic design, to helping to coordinate SPEC (Saint Paul's English Corner), to helping the church and Village Mosaix to run smoothly.
Peter can be contacted at peter.lloyd@vc.org.au
Village Eldership Team
Stephen Mason
Steve has been with us since the early days, pouring himself out behind the scenes so that we can be a healthy and functioning church. Loyal, godly, and down-to-earth, Steve loves the local church and it comes through in everything he does. When he's not doing our dirty work (i.e. paper work), you'll find Steve either sitting on some other Board, or surfing in the great outdoors. Win-win for Steve.
Matt Heaton
Matt and his wife Sarah have blessed Village Church immeasurably with their kind, loving and open lives. Always ready to serve, Matt joined the eldership team in early 2017. He's particularly keen to chat about the gospel with those who might be struggling with mental health issues. Matt and Sarah love spending their holiday time adventure travelling, and Matt has been known to play a mean trombone.
Tim Kuswadi
Tim is married to Sarah and they have 2 boys. They have been part of Village Church since the beginning. He is good at all things finance and supply chain and loves Jesus, his family, bike riding and coffee. He’s been really excited seeing Village Church grow followers of Jesus over the years. Tim would much rather be riding his bike than at an Elders' meeting.
Gospel Partners
Ministry workers we support around the world
