The Centre for Asian Christianity is blessed to be supported by a highly qualified and dedicated team of people determined to help the Centre fulfil its goals and mission to work collaboratively with Christians interested in or involved in Asian ministry both across Australia as well as across Asia.
Take a moment to get to know the team below…
BSci (Comp Sci), GradDipDiv, MA(ChrStds)
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR ASIAN CHRISTIANITY
BSc, MSc, PhD, MDiv, ThM
DIRECTOR OF CHINESE PROGRAM, LECTURER IN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
BSc MSc PhD
BEng, BTh, Dip Arts
B.HS, MDiv, MEdu, PhD Phil
MA Intercultural Studies, BE(Electronics), B.AS(Computer Systems), Grad.Dip.Christian Studies
BFA, DipGraphDes, DipDigMarketing
BTh, MTh
Grace grew up in Sydney in a large Chinese church. Since then she has served at various Chinese churches over the years in youth, students, young workers and women. Her passion and interest is contextualizing the gospel to Asian Australians and developing Asian churches in Australia. Grace is a graduate of Sydney Missionary and Bible College and Fuller Theological Seminary. Her study focussed on Chinese Australian identity and ministry.
Her previous roles have included: Director for Asian Contextual Engagement for the RICE Movement, Team Member for Interserve Culture Connect and OMF QLD’s Ministry Team. She was an Anglican Deaconness Ministries Summer Fellow in 2019. Her writing has appeared on the SOLA Network, Gospel Coalition Australia, Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church, Common Grace and Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity and Society.
In addition to her role as Director of CAC, Grace is also serving as a pastor alongside her husband, Chris, at Rise Alliance Church – a new church plant servicing the Rochedale area.
Dr Wally Wang
BSc, MSc, PhD, MDiv, ThM
DIRECTOR OF CHINESE PROGRAM, LECTURER IN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
Before delving into the theological world, Wally worked as a theoretical physicist while also pastoring a Chinese church in Sydney. He then began studying and teaching Theology in Hong Kong. Fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese, Wally has been lecturing in both our English and Chinese programs since 2013. Wally’s MDiv and ThM were both gained through the China Graduate School of Theology in Hong Kong, where his final thesis addressed the topic of the Holy Spirit’s role in God’s self-revelation. He’s a regular member of Centenary Uniting Church, but also commits many Sundays to preaching at two Chinese churches. Wally and his wife Ling have one son and two grandchildren and are originally from Hong Kong. Wally’s hobbies include photography and watching the Parramatta Eels.
Joe was born and grew up in Hong Kong. After graduating from secondary school, he went to the United States for his university education and completed his Bachelors degree in Engineering Physics and PhD in Theoretical Physics at Cornell University. He worked in the telecommunications field and held posts including a department head at Bell Laboratories, a business management director at Lucent Technologies, and Chief Operating Officer of a start-up company.
For over two years he lived in Hong Kong and China, during which time he successfully led joint venture negotiations between AT&T and the Chinese Ministry of Telecommunications; Joe was briefly the managing director of this Shanghai JV, one of the earliest such entities in China. His international experience also includes leading groups and working with partners in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Now retired, Joe and his wife Anne live in New Jersey. They attend Monmouth Chinese Community Church where Joe is involved with the music and translation ministries. Joe and Anne support various Christian organisations in the United States and Asia, including serving as advisors to a non-profit microloan organisation based in Pennsylvania with operations in China. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Chris grew up in the Redlands and trained in Public Health, before serving in the Northern Territory’s Department of Health. After some time, Chris returned to Queensland and in 2008, began his theological studies while serving as a pastor at Cleveland Baptist Church. Following this, he served for three years as an Associate Pastor at Devonport Baptist Church (Tasmania), while continuing his doctoral research into Luke’s Gospel and preparing for overseas ministry.
In 2015, Chris and his family moved to Indonesia. After completing language studies, the family was seconded to the CMA (Christian and Missionary Alliance), after which Chris began teaching at STFT Jaffray Makassar, which is a large seminary in Eastern Indonesia.
Chris currently teaches in the areas of Theology, Biblical Studies and New Testament Greek. He’s written and edited a number of books and journal articles, and currently serves in various leadership roles at local and national levels.
Chris is married to Amy and they have three children – Josiah, Eliana and Elijah.
Jeff and Belinda worked in Thailand with OMF from 2000-2019. Before that, Belinda worked as a physiotherapist and Jeff was an engineer. Both studied at the Bible College of Queensland (now Brisbane School of Theology). In 2018, Jeff finished a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies with Biola University. They have four sons – Nathan (21), Matthew (18), Rowan (15) and Steven (7).
Belinda and Jeff planted a church in Pak Phanang, a small town on the eastern coastline of Thailand in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. They phased out of this church in 2013. As the Regional Leaders for OMF work in South Thailand, they led, mentored and encouraged the lay church leaders of the Pak Phanang church, along with a bunch of newer missionaries who are serving the Lord in other areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat province.
Jeff & Belinda were involved in setting up a prayer counselling ministry in South Thailand, as well as the South Thailand Adventure Camp – a camp that shares the Gospel with young Thai people – and Project Joshua, a training scheme for new lay church leaders in the south.
Belinda enjoys drinking coffee with friends, as well as reading good books and playing board games. Jeff enjoys rock climbing, cycling and badminton. They are members of Moore Park Baptist Church in Indooroopilly, Brisbane.
Phil Peterson
BFA in Creative Writing Production, Dip Graph Des, Dip Digital Marketing
MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Phil grew up in the highlands of Papua New Guinea where his parents were serving as missionaries before returning to Australia in 1995. He loves to read and has a passion for writing which prompted him to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Production at QUT. He then went on to work for Scripture Union Queensland as Media & Communications Manager. Phil has since branched out further into the not-for-profit world, taking on several roles in the fundraising and communications space, as well as pursuing his own freelance endeavours, working on behalf of various charities to help create successful appeals and fundraising campaigns. Phil loves to help equip and resource organisations for ministry, and is excited to help raise awareness and support (both prayerful and financial) for BST. He and his wife, Monique, have three energetic young boys who run them both ragged. In his free time Phil loves to watch movies, read books, and catch up on all the sleep his children have stolen from him.