Staff

Lachlan, Baillie, Alex, Gemma and Grae McWhirter

Rev. Grae McWhirter

Senior Pastor

Grae grew up as part of the Blakehurst Baptist Church family where he met and married Gemma in 1992. Both Grae and Gemma commenced theological studies in 1995 at Morling College and during their course of study both served as Student Pastors at Dundas and Narwee Baptist Churches. In 1998 Grae was Senior Student of Morling Theological College where he currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. During 1998 Grae also took part in the Evangelism Intern Scheme at the Centre for Evangelism and Global Mission with Mike Frost and Shaun Potts where he was mentored in preaching and evangelism. In 1999 Grae became the Associate Pastor at Narwee Baptist Church where he was ordained. Grae returned to the church he grew up in as Senior Pastor of Blakehurst Baptist Church in November 2002. He is currently completing a Masters of Arts in Ministry through Morling College. Grae and Gemma have three children, Alexandra, Lachlan and Baillie.

Natalie, James, Emily, Cheri and Sean McMaster

James McMaster

Associate Pastor

James joined our ministry staff as Associate Pastor in 2011. He completed his Bachelor of Ministries at Morling College and is currently undertaking a Master of Arts in Ministry as well as being a candidate for accreditation and ordination with the Baptist Churches of NSW. He has served as Pastor of the St George Baptist Community Fellowship for 10 years and in 2010 integrated that congregation with Blakehurst Baptist Church. James is responsible for our Unite gathering on Sunday evenings, as well as our small group ministries along with serving as a regular preacher and part of the leadership team. He also has a ministry emphasis in global mission where he serves as Co-Director of The Living Way Capacity Building Organisation which works amongst the community of Chiredzi in Zimbabwe. James is married to Cheri and they have three young children.

Michael, Jamie, Liam and Shelley Ashton

Mrs Shelley Ashton

Children's Worker

Shelley is a trained Primary Teacher and for a number of years worked in Children’s Ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. She heads up our children’s ministries which includes directing our Sunday morning Children's programme, our yearly Holiday Kids Club, co-ordinating and teaching Protestant Scripture at Connells Point Public School and heading up our World Vision "Kids Hope" Program. Shelley is married to Michael and they have two boys.

Mr Matt Tory

Youth Director

Matt is a chef by profession. He has recently completed a Diploma of Theology at Sydney Missionary and Bible College and has joined the Ministry Staff in 2012 one day a week to head up our youth program.