About Us
Church Staff
- Senior Minister
- Rev Raj Gupta
- Assistant Minister
- Rev Donny Kwan
- Children's Minister
- Kat Harris
- Student Ministers
- Mike Hastie
- Campbell Mackay
- Other
- Office Manager
- Past Staff
Senior Minister, Rev Raj Gupta
Raj’s parents migrated from Haryana State, India to Australia and Raj was born in Brisbane not long after they arrived. Growing up in a nominal Hindu family, he first heard about Jesus’ death and resurrection as a teenager.
Given his family background, he had to wrestle with himself to work out the personal and intellectual basis for Jesus. He remembers that ‘it was amazing to understand that Jesus died for my sins and that I could be forgiven’.
As he grew as a person he longed to understand more about what God has said to us in the Bible.
His years studying Accounting at the University of New South Wales provided just that opportunity because of the availability of a Bible teaching Christian group. It was also over this time that God put on his heart the need and opportunity to consider becoming a full time Christian pastor.
Following his degree, Raj worked as an accountant for a number of years before deciding to retrain to become a pastor. Having completed an apprenticeship scheme for pastors, he began formal theological training at Moore College at Newtown. Since then he has worked in churches around Sydney, including St Ives and Engadine, before commencing as the Senior Minister of Toongabbie Anglican Church in April 2007.
Raj is also involved in the training of young men and women in ministry. In November will be leading a Katoomba Christian Convention team to set up a leadership training conference in Uganda.
It was also at university that he met Nicole, to whom he is now married. Today they have three children, aged between 3 and 8. He has been spotted at the gym from time to time, and loves cricket (at least watching it!). And in case you’re wondering, when Australia and India play, the winner is cricket!
Assistant Minister, Rev Donny Kwan
Donny Kwan started as the assistant minister of Toongabbie Anglican in December 2007. He is married to Vicki, and has two young children. He has most recently served at Macquarie Anglican Churches.
Children's Minister, Kat Harris
Kat started as the Children's Minister at Toongabbie Anglican at the beginning of 2009. She is married to Steve. She enjoys a good chat, chocolate and tennis.
MTS Apprentices
More about the Ministry Training Strategy (MTS) program.
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Student Ministers
Mike Hastie
Mike Hastie will join us as a student minister in 2010.
Campbell Mackay
Campbell Mackay will join us as a student minister in 2010.
Other
Office Manager
Part time office manager: Anne Whiting
Past Staff
Senior Minister
1996-2007: Rev. Philip Bassett B.Sc., Th. L.
Philip trained as a Chemical Engineer at U.N.S.W. and served in industry in quality control and industrial research.
Philip trained for ministry at Moore Theological College from 1977-9. He served as Assistant Minister at Hornsby Heights and Balgowlah before moving to Campbelltown to plant a new church in the new housing estate at Ambarvale. During this time he became the Curate-in-Charge of the new parish of Cataract with Ambarvale. From 1990 to 1996 Philip served as Rector of the Murchison with BCA in outback Western Australia.
Philip was Senior Minister at Toongabbie Anglican Church from September 1996 till his retirement on 27 February 2007.
Associate Minister
2001-07: Neil Atwood Dip YthMin
Neil was the Associate Minister at Toongabbie Anglican Church from August 2001 to January 2007.
Currently Neil is an associate minister at Springwood Anglican Church.
Keep up with Neil at his blog Westserve.
Youth Minister
Chris Forder
Chris Forder will be commencing full time study at SMBC in 2010.
MTS Apprentices
2008-9: Ben Atwood
Ben Atwood was a MTS Apprentice at Toongabbie Anglican Church in 2008-9. Ben Atwood will be commencing full time study at SMBC in 2010.
2006: Laura Rowland
Student Ministers
2009: Ben Pakula
Ben Pakula was a student minister in 2009.
2008-9: Paul Brigden
Paul Bridgen was a student minister at Toongabbie Anglican Church in 2008-9.
2008-9: Luke Woodhouse
Luke Woodhouse was a student minister at Toongabbie Anglican Church in 2008-9.
2007-8: Garry Dibley
Garry Dibley was a student minister at Toongabbie Anglican Church for 2007-2008.
2006: Tim Adams
Tim was an MTS Apprentice at Toongabbie Anglican Church in 2005. In 2006 he started full-time study at Moore Theological College and moved to a student minister position at Toongabbie Anglican Church.
In 2007, Tim moved to Macquarie Anglican Churches as a student minister.