Our Team
Dave & Ruth Sheath
Senior Pastor & Women’s Ministry Coordinator
Dave studied at Moore Theological College with his wife Ruth and together they started The Lakes Church in 2001. At The Lakes, Dave leads the staff team and Admin Committee and is the primary preacher on Sundays. He also serves as Secretary on the executive team of our denomination FIEC. Ruth coordinates our women’s ministries and raising up the next generation of gospel workers. Dave and Ruth also mentor pastors and their wives through the Geneva Push network.
Dave and Ruth have three adult children and on their days off they enjoy spending time with their family and taking walks along the beach with their dog Charlie.
Jono McKeown
Strategy & Engaging Pastor
Jono grew up on the Coast and served as a pastor at EV Church in Erina for 15 years before joining our team in 2024. Jono studied at Moore Theological College and is passionate about sharing the gospel with anyone who will listen!
Jono is married to Lyndal and they have three children. As our Engaging Pastor, Jono seeks to mobilise our whole church family to share the gospel with the Central Coast and beyond. He also has additional leadership and strategic planning responsibilities within our staff team. On days off Jono and Lyndal like to spend time at the beach and time with family. Jono also enjoys both playing and watching basketball.
Matt Stubbs
Connecting Pastor & 10.30am Congregation Leader
Matt has been attending The Lakes since 2007. He is a registered psychologist, working for the past thirty years with people with drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and mental health issues. Matt’s role at The Lakes includes Connecting Pastor, 10.30am congregation leader, and Celebrate Recovery support. He is married to Christina and they have six wonderful children.
Matt is an avid sports follower and he longs for the day when the mighty St George Illawarra Dragons win the NRL again!
Mel Clement
Children & Young Women’s Ministry
Mel joined The Lakes in 2010 and studied for a Bachelor of Primary and Early Childhood Education before working as a teacher. She then completed a Ministry Apprenticeship at The Lakes, followed by a Bachelor of Theology at Moore Theological College.
As our Children’s Ministry Coordinator Mel hopes and prays to see a whole generation of children standing firm in their faith and holding onto God’s promises as they grow to adulthood. She is also involved in ministry to young women and loves seeing women grow certain in their faith in a world that is so uncertain. She enjoys a good cup of tea and playing with clay in her spare time.
Susie Schubert
Chinese Ministry Coordinator
Susie migrated to Australia from mainland China in 2008 and became a Christian the following year. She came to The Lakes in 2011 and volunteered helping our Chinese members to know and follow Jesus. For three years Susie worked as a ministry apprentice at The Lakes through MTS (Ministry Training Strategy), growing in her conviction, character and competence as a gospel worker.
Since 2018 Susie has worked as our Chinese Ministry Coordinator and is the primary translator for our 10:30am Sunday service. She is married to Terry and they have two children. She loves shopping and eating yummy Chinese food in Chinatown.
Josh Mason
MTS Trainee
Josh has been at The Lakes since 2005 and has completed a Bachelor of Education Primary Teaching. He has taught in Special Education for the past five years, specialising in Autism, Post Dramatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety, Depression and Cognitive learning disabilities.
At The Lakes, Josh leads our Youth Team, and our Good News Week Program, and serves in a connecting role for our young adults at Church@5. He is currently studying through Sydney Missionary and Bible College. Josh is married to Hannah and they have three young daughters. Josh loves spending time with his family and spearfishing when he gets the chance.
Brad Adamson
MTS Trainee
Brad came to know and love Christ while in youth group at The Lakes in 2015. For this reason, he has a passion for seeing youth grow as disciples of Christ. He is involved in our youth ministry at The Lakes, as well as Growth Groups and Church@5.
Brad is married to Kellie and they have two young daughters. In his spare time he likes to play soccer and cricket, and enjoys reading non-fiction books, especially about theology.
Noureen Stephens
Ministry Support Manager
Noureen migrated to Australia from North Borneo in 1998 and became a Christian when she was 25 years old. Noureen is married to Andrew and has been attending The Lakes since 2016. She has over 20 years’ experience working in the IT industry.
In 2023 Noureen started her role as Ministry Support Manager, providing practical, logistical, and administrative resources and support to the ministry team as they seek to make and grow disciples. In her spare time Noureen enjoys exploring “street food”, short nature walks and aqua aerobics.
Kathy Lian
Office Manager
Kathy left her home church in Sydney to join The Lakes in 2013 as she and her husband Jun were already volunteering in Chinese ministry and serving new Chinese Christians on the Central Coast. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and has 20 years of experience in office and human resources administration.
Kathy joined our staff team in 2015, managing the office, overseeing all the administrative functions and working alongside the pastoral team and volunteers in various ministries. She loves cooking, eating and taking photos of food!
Andrea Groves
Office Assistant
Andrea has been at The Lakes since 2011 after to moving to the Central Coast from Sydney. She is married to Anthony and they have two sons, Sebastian and Caleb. After working in various administrative capacities for many years, Andrea now enjoys working part-time assisting in our office.
In her spare time Andrea enjoys spending time with her two dogs at the beach, reading and photography.
Rebekah Laidlaw
Office Assistant
Rebekah joined The Lakes in 2022 when she moved to the Central Coast from Sydney to work with horses. She has previously managed a support centre for adults living with disabilities. Rebekah joined our staff team as a part-time Office Assistant in 2024 and continues to work as a Teacher’s Assistant in local schools.
Rebekah is married to Ben who introduced her to The Lakes, and they have a dog called Luna. Her second home is with extended family in New Zealand. She enjoys gardening and sports.
Marnie Hanlon
Communications Coordinator
Marnie has been a member of The Lakes since 2008. She completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Graphic Design) at Wesley Institute in 2003 and has since worked as a graphic designer in various paid and voluntary positions in Australia and overseas. She joined our staff team in 2019 and is responsible for overseeing our website, social media, photography and promotions.
Marnie loves to snorkel at Toowoon Bay and owns a small dog that looks like Hairy Maclary.
