Gene Appel

Gene is recognized by many as a gifted leader with a passion for following Christ and a sensitivity for hurting people. He has coached church leaders from around the world on how to lead churches through healthy change. Gene served as Lead Pastor at Willow Creek Community church in South Barrington, Illinois for five years, providing focused vision, teaching and leadership for one of the most influential churches in the world. Gene is currently Senior Pastor at Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, California. Within the first four months of his appointment in October 2008 the church experienced explosive growth of 60% in weekend services! He has authored several books; including ‘Dream Intruders’, ‘Healing Hidden Hurts’, and ‘How to Change Your Church without killing it’. We are thrilled to have Gene returning to Crossway.

Stuart Robinson

Stuart Robinson came to Blackburn Baptist over 27 years ago, and under his leadership God grew that church to the Crossway Baptist Church that we see today.

Prior to being called to Blackburn Baptist, he worked for fourteen years in South Asia where he pioneered church planting among Muslims. He now travels extensively as a speaker at national and international conferences.
 

He is an author of several books including the prize winning best selling ‘Mosques & Miracles’.

Dale Stephenson

Dale Stephenson has been Senior Pastor of Crossway Baptist Church since January 2008. Dale is known as an innovative and positive leader, always looking to position the Church to become more relevant and engaged within the local community. He has a passionate approach to outreach, which equips him to pastor this large and growing church in these challenging times of falling church membership in Australia.

Dale is enthusiastic about church ‘doing life’ through smaller groups, called Life Groups here at Crossway.  He believes that it is in these smaller communities that we best fellowship, grow, develop and care for those who journey with us.
 

A significant initiative during 2009 saw the number of Crossway people involved in Life Groups increase by 60%.

Mark Sayers

Mark is the leader of the Red East church in Melbourne, Australia, an innovative Christian community specifically reaching the young adult demographic. Mark is the founder of Über a ministry that specialises in issues of youth and young adult discipleship. He is also an author and speaker who specializes in interpreting popular culture from a Christian viewpoint. Mark is a strategic thinker in the areas of popular culture and faith and is author of ‘The Trouble with Paris’: ‘Jesus in a World of Plastic Promises’ and his recent release ‘The Vertical Self’. We are delighted to welcome Mark this year.