Connect 2025 Main Session Speakers
Our Main stage theme for Connect 2025 is “Good News”: Encountering the Gospel of Jesus Christ and exploring what it means for us, the church and the world.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest news we will ever receive—but how well can we truly explain it? Many of us might summarise it in a few key points, yet the Gospel is far richer, deeper, and more powerful than we often realise. That's why we have invited a great lineup of trusted speakers to help unpack and expand our understanding of the good news of the Gospel and what it means for us, the church and the world.
Together, we will worship, learn, and pray—celebrating the life-changing power of the Gospel and sharing stories of how it is transforming our ministries and communities.
Friday PM – Matt Chamberlin: The Gospel – Bigger and Better Than You Even Imagined
The Gospel is more than a set of beliefs or an escape plan to get us into heaven —it’s the person of Jesus and the sweeping story of God’s redemption, God bringing heaven to earth. This session invites us to expand our understanding, tracing the movement of Scripture from Creation to Restoration. The Gospel is richer, deeper, and more life-changing than any of us can imagine.
Matt Chamberlin - Presbyterian Youth Ministry
Matt has been the National Youth Director of Presbyterian Youth Ministry (PYM) for the past decade. He has been involved in youth work for over 20 years, working as a youth pastor, youth worker in schools and as a General Manager of a youth work agency. Matt has qualifications in science, counselling, youth work and theology and loves the way that these disciplines can be woven together to help people to grow in faith. Matt is married to Stephanie and they have two daughters Hannah (15) and Lila (12). Matt gets excited about being part of the story of God bringing to heaven to earth. He loves the outdoors, building stuff, chocolate and bouncing his daughters on their trampoline.
Saturday AM – Sebastian Murrihy: The Good News of Jesus Christ (Part 1)
This session explores how the Gospel is good news in the here and now. Through the incarnation and the life and ministry of Jesus, we see God drawing near, healing what is broken, and inviting us into restored relationship. This is a Gospel of flourishing—where the presence of Christ brings transformation to lives and communities.
Saturday PM – Sebastian Murrihy: The Good News of Jesus Christ (Part 2)
The story continues with the death and resurrection of Jesus—the turning point of history. But it doesn’t end there. The risen Christ breathes the Holy Spirit into his followers, empowering the Church to carry this good news to the world. This session unpacks these important themes and reminds us how the Gospel is still unfolding, through us, in the power of the Spirit.
Sebastian Murrihy - Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership
Sebastian is a half-time minister in the small Taranaki town of Waitara at an awesome church called Knox Church Waitara. He is also half-time lecturer/ministry formation co-ordinator at the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership. He is married to the amazing Jessica, and they have three energetic boys: Elias (7), Isaiah (5), and Micah (2). The Murrihy whānau loves sport, tramping through the bush, and spending quality time with our friends. Sebastian loves telling the story of the God who loves us. He has a heart to see all people flourish as they come to know this God and learn the beautiful rhythms of grace. He is passionate about the church and seeing people find a place of hope and belonging in Christian community. While he’s not as fast as he used to be and definitely gets injured more easily, Sebastian still loves the opportunity to run around on the football field.
Sunday AM – Shireen Chua: The Gospel, Mission and Ministry in 3D
In today’s complex world, ministry isn’t one-size-fits-all. This session explores how culture and complexity shape how people see the world—and the Gospel. By developing intercultural agility, we can better reflect Christ in diverse communities and make the Gospel come alive in real, relational, and relevant ways. Discover how Truth, Honour, and Power dynamics reveal new dimensions of mission and ministry.
Shireen Chua - Third Culture Solutions
Shireen has lived and worked in Aotearoa New Zealand for 35 years. Her journey between Eastern and Western cultures has shaped her deep interest in cultural complexity and its impact on teams, leadership, and organisations. This personal journey led her to complete an MBA from Southern Cross University and a PhD titled "Making Sense of Cultural Diversity’s Complexity: Leadership Agency for Diversity Management."
As a long-time member of Auckland Baptist Tabernacle and OMF New Zealand, Shireen brings a unique lens to intercultural mission and ministry. She speaks and teaches on intercultural church, marketplace mission, leadership, and organisational development. Her work explores how cultural identity and worldview shape relationships, community, and faith.
Professionally, she leads Third Culture Solutions, a consultancy focused on leadership and organisational development. She co-designs learning experiences, facilitates workshops, and coaches leaders and expats. Shireen also teaches in leadership programmes at Laidlaw College, Carey Baptist College, Waikato University, and Massey University.
In her free time, she enjoys dog park visits with Wynston the Wauzer, reading, and playing strategic board games. She’s also a budding gardener—this summer she’s proudly grown tomatoes, courgettes, passionfruit, cucumbers, and over 100 berries.
