Victorian Conference Departmental Ministry Leaders for new Quadrennium
Pr. Darren Croft
Published
It is my pleasure to introduce our new team for Departmental Ministries in the Victorian Conference. These Departmental Leaders are appointed for the next four years – or the quadrennium. We have followed the lead of the Australian Union Conference and grouped ministries into clusters to help facilitate our mission to take the gospel to our part of the world – i.e. the Victorian Conference. The Departmental Team will continue to work together as a whole departmental team, while also having the opportunity to work together in their clusters to:
- Provide support, training and resources for the local church.
- Facilitate collaboration between departments for ministry.
- Align more clearly with the broader church, where Adventist Mission has grouped those Departments that focus on Pastors and churches for our mission as Adventists. Personal Ministries has disappeared as a title from the AUC, SPD/GC. While we have retained the title for now, we recognise that it fits within a bigger picture of Discipleship as part of our Adventist Mission.
Adventist Mission
Ministerial Association Secretary – Pr Fraser Catton
Fraser has most recently served as the Pastor of Burwood Church and has pastored several churches, including Lilydale, Casey, and Bayles. He also assisted with Harvest Victoria. Fraser brings broad ministry experience to the ministerial role, supporting the pastors in Victoria.
Associate Ministerial Secretary – Pr Piroska Vranyakne-Feith
Piroska’s early ministry was in Victoria before moving to Western Australia, where she served in pastoral and departmental roles. She recently returned to Victoria, where she has pastored at Nunawading and Casey churches, and will continue in the Associate Ministerial role supporting pastors.
Personal Ministries/Discipleship – Pr Michael Mohanu
Michael has been Senior Pastor at Casey Church for 13 years and pastored other churches before that, including the Romanian Church. Michael brings a strong commitment to ministry and significant experience in the local church to this role, where he will bless others in the Conference.
Health Ministry – Libby Hergenhan
Libby is new to Victoria and is currently moving from Tasmania. Libby comes with a teaching background as well as having a long-term interest and involvement in Health Ministry. Most recently, she has served in Health Ministry in Tasmania, and she is looking forward to taking on a new challenge in Victoria.
Church Planting – Pr Uili Mauga and Pr Piroska Vranyakne-Feith
Uili and Piroska understand that planting new churches is embedded in the DNA of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As we aim to reach new people groups, communities or geographic areas, church planting seeks to intentionally create healthy communities of faith that spread the good news of Jesus in Victoria. Together, they will strategise, advise, and provide support for new church plants. Uili and Piroska look forward to working with groups eager to learn more about church planting.
Church Family
Youth Director – Pr Jonathon Gillard
Jono is well-known to our Youth in Victoria as the Associate Youth Director for the past two years. Jono has served in both chaplaincy and church pastoral roles, including serving as the pastor of the Upper Room, as a school chaplain at Gilson, and previously pastoring in New Zealand.
Assistant Youth Director – Natasha Su’a
Tash is a new addition to the Youth Department. She has a history of involvement in Pathfinders and VicYouth summer camps. Tash will bring energy and enthusiasm as she learns the role. She has recently been part of the Pastoral Team in Mildura, contributing to both Mildura Church and Henderson College.
Children’s and Family: Pr Uili Mauga
Uili has very ably filled this role over the last term. He has a passion for training and equipping children and families, and will continue to do so.
Sabbath School: Pr Piroska Vranyakne-Feith
Using her pastoral experience, Pirsoka will also be taking on the role of Sabbath School leader.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries (ATSIM) –
Pr Wendy Saluni
Wendy has extensive experience working across cultures, as well as in and with Aboriginal communities in Victoria and other parts of Australia. She has pastored across Victoria in both city and country regions, including her current role as pastor at Northpoint Church, and brings teaching and pastoral experience to her ministry.
Women’s Ministry – Pr Tarnya Garner
Tarnya stepped into the Women’s Ministry role while serving in Pastoral Ministry in Victoria. She has pastored at Nunawading Church and is the current pastor of North Fitzroy Church and the Mornington Peninsula Fellowship. Tarnya continues to use her life experience to support Women’s Ministry in Victoria.
Community Engagement
ADRA – Rebecca Auriant
Bec has been involved with ADRA for many years. She started in a part-time role before transitioning to a full-time role (partly funded by ADRA Australia) in recognition of the role's importance. Bec brings a passion for serving those in need and is committed to continuing to support and resource local ADRA leaders.
ASV Education Director – Steve Cowley
Steve has served as Education Director for Victoria for two years and brings a strong Christ-centred focus and professional practice to the role. Before coming to Victoria, he had many years of experience in education, most recently serving as Education Director in SA and WA Conferences.
ASV Associate Education Director - Betty Lakovic
Betty brings a wealth of experience in Education in Victoria and is continuing in the Associate Education Director role. Her caring approach and commitment to the ministry of Education and the Church are clearly evident in her work.
Adventist Schools Victoria (ASV) comprises of seven campuses, over 3,500 students, and more than 1,000 employees. Many teachers and ASV staff members actively contribute to local churches, and our schools play a significant role in our church’s work in Victoria.
Communication – The Conference President
Communication has traditionally been carried by the President in Victoria, and this will continue for the time being. Achieving effective communication is crucial and a significant challenge in today's social media age.
Governance
Trust Services – Pr Josh Wood
Josh brings a caring pastoral approach to the Trust Services role, along with attention to detail. He brings previous professional and pastoral experience to the role, including pastoring at Nunawading Church and the Upper Room. He is appreciated by those who have accessed the Church’s will provision service.
Religious Liberty – The Conference Secretary
This role is one of many that the Conference Secretary carries, yet it remains a space in Victoria we need to monitor actively. We are fortunate to have a full-time Religious Liberty Director at the Australian Union Conference who provides support in this area.
Stewardship – The Conference CFO
Oversight for this role will initially rest with the CFO while changes are underway at the Australian and South Pacific arms of the Church regarding stewardship. As with Religious Liberty, we are fortunate to gain support from a Stewardship Director at the Australian Union Conference.
Please pray for our new Conference Team as we work together with our Churches and Institutions in Victoria to work with purpose and focus. Together, we face a real challenge to be faithful to Jesus, and to think creatively as we seek to share the good news of Jesus.
Saying Farewell
Finally, we pay a special tribute and say a big thank you to those who have served and will be moving on to a new chapter in their ministry.
Phil Hyland – Associate Youth Director; Youth Director. Phil has served with distinction, energy, and commitment. As a leader, he has been synonymous with Youth ministry in Victoria. Thank you, Phil for your hard work and your love for our young people. We know you will continue to contribute in new ways in the future.
Pr Andrew Jasper – Health and Personal Ministries. On the Health front, Andrew has worked tirelessly to support the establishment of Cedarvale and leaves a significant legacy due to his commitment to a holistic approach to Health. Personal Ministries includes Andrew’s important contribution to the Harvest Victoria evangelistic focus prior to 2020.
Pr Justin Bone – Ministerial Association Secretary. Justin’s caring and pastoral approach has been gratefully received and appreciated by many pastors in Victoria. His thoughtful wisdom and writing ability will continue to impact many in Victoria as he looks forward to returning to local church ministry in 2026.
Pr Roy Kim – Church Planting Director. Roy pioneered the church planting role in Victoria with his highly organised and strategic thinking. He takes the skills he developed in Victoria to a wider field as he moves to the Associate Ministerial and Church Planting role at the AUC, where he will support our new (soon-to-be-appointed) Church Planting Director.
