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Australian Christian Churches are a movement of Pentecostal churches in Australia.
Each individual church is self-governing, but commits itself to work together with other churches in the movement for the purpose of mutual support and reaching the community with the power of the gospel.
The Assemblies of God in Australia was formed in 1937 and has experienced consistent growth, particularly in the last twenty years. It adopted the new name of Australian Christian Churches in 2007 and currently consists of more than 1000 churches with over 375,000 constituents, making it the largest Pentecostal movement in Australia.
In our churches you’ll find vibrant, contemporary Christians who love the Lord Jesus Christ and express that love in lively praise and worship and healthy community.
Australian Christian Churches are Bible-loving, Evangelical and Pentecostal and are about connecting people to Jesus Christ.
ACC STATE PRESIDENT
Ps Mark Zschech
Mark and Darlene Zschech serve as Lead Pastors of Hope Unlimited Church (Hope UC) with campuses in Charmhaven, Gosford, Peninsula, Newcastle, Maitland and Port Stephens, and internationally in the US and India.
Mark lives on the Central Coast of NSW with his wife Darlene and they have 3 daughters Amy, Chloe, Zoe Jewel, son-in-law Andrew, Hosanna and Matt, and 6 grandchildren.
On a family trip to Rwanda, Mark was challenged by the plight of the Rwandan people. In response, Mark and Darlene launched Hope Rwanda: 100 Days of Hope and Hope Global, which continues impacting the nation of Rwanda with deliverable programs such as teacher training and the Village of Hope (housing for widows and orphans). This work has also spread to Cambodia and India.
Mark also runs 4B Media and 4B Serve, its focus being to pioneer and lead in accessing TV in developing nations, helping ministries maximise their reach, and utilising local support services. 4B has also developed a Diploma of Screen and Media course, in partnership with Alphacrucis, to help students become Media Missionaries via their “Learn and Earn” program.
Locally, Mark was part of the team that brought the Australian Christian Channel (now rebranded to Good TV) onto Foxtel, and rolled out (in his role as Senior Pastor of Hope UC) the “Can We Pray For You” campaign, which is designed for Kingdom purpose to impact the regions and cities by highlighting the spiritual practice of prayer into the marketplace and creating another pathway for people to access a local church.
Mark was also appointed to the ACC National Executive and has a strong passion for the local church and its mission to see the hope of Jesus Christ reside in every heart. He is passionate about pastors and leaders being people of faith and worship, who put God at the centre of their lives, and he is focused on supporting pastors and churches.
STATE EXECUTIVE
PS DARREN BONNELL
Vice President
Darren and his wife Bronwyn, lead The Chapel Collective, a multisite Church in regional NSW.
Darren has served on the State Executive for 10 years, overseeing Church Planting and serving as the Vice President since 2018. He is passionate about positioning people in their God-appointed purpose and raising churches to thrive in their God-appointed future.
In 2023, Darren launched Multisite X, (part of The Jethro Project). This was adopted by ACC nationally as a part of a church planting training rollout. His love is his wife, the gorgeous Bron and their three children.
Darren is known for his conviction, authenticity, and love of sports.
PS BEN SATTLER
State Secretary
Ben and his wife Amy serve as the Lead Pastors of City Church in the Blue Mountains.
They have served in various staff ministry roles over the last 15 years and as lead pastors for the past 6 years.
They are passionate about building a healthy, multi-generational church and seeing people encounter Jesus, raised as disciples, and released into their God-given purpose.
Ben is a visionary leader, a relatable pastor, and passionate about helping people thrive with their unique gifts and calling.
Ben and Amy have been married for 16 years and have three incredible kids - Cooper, Georgia, and Hudson.
PS CALEB DWYER
State Executive
Caleb is a seasoned pastor and leader with a heart for church planting, community impact and helping leaders maintain health.
Alongside his wife Renee, he has spent 15 years pioneering multiple church plants and establishing community initiatives in regional NSW and South Asia.
Today, Caleb serves as the Senior Pastor of Generocity Church, a multi-site church spanning diverse communities across rural, regional, and coastal NSW. His leadership extends beyond his church, as he has held the role of ACC NSW Western Region Leader for eight years and continues to serve on the ACC NSW Pastoral Health Team.
A therapist with a Master of Counselling from Alphacrucis University College and extensive ministry experience, Caleb is deeply committed to equipping Christian leaders with paradigms and principles for healthy, sustainable and fruitful ministry. He is dedicated to helping pastors, their families, and their churches thrive spiritually and emotionally, in an ongoing, God-honouring and joyful way.
Caleb, Renee, and their four daughters enjoy ‘living the dream’ on their 100-acre bush property near Bathurst.
PS ROZ ZAIA
State Executive
Roz and her husband Mark led Macquarie Life Church in Newcastle for over 30 years, overseeing its growth from 20 to 1000 members, while sending out 15 Senior Ministers and planting five churches.
Roz, a former schoolteacher, is passionate about raising leaders, healthy pastors, and healthy churches.
In 2020, Mark passed the leadership baton to Roz who, together with the team, transitioned the church to an Apostolic /Five-Fold Model in February 2024. Roz continues serving at Macquarie Life Church, mentoring leaders and this year has launched a Mental Health Ministry.
She currently serves on the NSW/ACT State Executive and leads the Women’s and Pastor’s Health Department. She loves to hike and hang out with her three kids and four grandkids.
PS STEPHEN LOTT
State Executive
Stephen (Lotty) and his wife Cie are the Senior Pastors of Life-House Church, a growing multi-campus church in Northern New South Wales.
Lotty is an innovative and highly relational leader devoted to making disciples who are released into their God-given purpose to advance the kingdom. He is an inspiring preacher, engaging hearers with heart, humour and a hunger for the Holy Spirit.
Lotty’s passion for raising and releasing the current and emerging generations is seen throughout his leadership as the NSW & ACT Director of Youth Alive. Initiatives such as the Youth Alive Academy are seeing young people developed and planted as leaders in their home churches.
Lotty and Cie have been married for 20 years, have four amazing children and love living in “paradise” on the Coffs Coast.
PS LOU ANTONIUS
State Executive
Louise (Lou) Antonius along with her husband Felix lead Eastcoast Church, Caringbah in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. Lou has been part of Eastcoast Church for 18 years.
After serving on the Pastoral team for 11 years in various leadership roles, Lou transitioned into the Senior Leadership of Eastcoast Church 4 years ago.
Lou’s leadership and preaching style endears and inspires people across all generations. She loves and believes in the local church, and deeply understands the church’s role in sharing the hope of Jesus Christ to the world, starting with the local community. From her own experience of serving God while raising her three young children, Lou is passionate about creating opportunities for all of God’s people to serve and participate in ministry in any stage of life.
Lou is focussed on raising and releasing people into God’s calling, and believes that everyone within the church can have a vibrant and vital relationship with Jesus, and that all Christians play an important role in the wider body of Christ.
WE BELIEVE
We believe that in order to receive forgiveness and the ‘new birth’ we must repent of our sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and submit to His will for our lives.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is both God and man, is the only one who can reconcile us to God. He lived a sinless and exemplary life, died on the cross in our place and rose again to prove His victory and empower us for life.
We believe that sin has separated each of us from God and His purpose for our lives.
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our every day lives.
We believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is accurate, authoritative and applicable to our every day lives.
We believe that in order to live the holy and fruitful lives that God intends for us, we need to be baptised in water and be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables us to use spiritual gifts, including speaking in tongues which is the initial evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit.
We believe that God has individually equipped us so that we can successfully achieve His purpose for our lives which is to worship God, fulfil our role in the Church and serve the community in which we live.
We believe that God wants to heal and transform us so that we can live healthy and prosperous lives in order to help others more effectively.
We believe that our eternal destination of either Heaven or hell is determined by our response to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back again as He promised.