The NZ Board

Jack (Board Chair)

Jack started a career as an electrical engineer but then followed a call into pastoral ministry in 1987. He has served in roles as an administrator, pastor and teacher until 1991 when he took a position as Principal of a Bible and Mission College. This is a pathway he has pursued since then, holding several other roles as Academic Dean and Principal. Currently Jack is Principal of Alphacrucis College based in Auckland.

Jack has always had a passion for mission and in Bible College positions often mobilised students into short or long-term mission assignments. In 2004 he was invited onto the Board of Pioneers New Zealand. He now chairs the board and in 2010 was appointed as chair of the Pioneers International Council. He counts it a privilege to serve in this way and thoroughly enjoys the opportunity.

Denise (Vice Chair)

Founding Pioneers Board Member. Bio coming…

Michael (Secretary)

Michael, along with his wife Freda, operate an extended family for internationals (refugees, migrants and international students) at Hebron House in Mt Albert and have up to 25 living with them at any one time. Michael has also been involved with the Perspectives Study Program for more than 20 years, the last ten years as the National Coordinator in New Zealand. He also coordinates the Operation Friendship program throughout New Zealand which links churches to international students as part of a friendship ministry which operates in some 11 universities or polytechs throughout the country. He has been on the Pioneers board since July 2004.

Grayson (Treasurer)

Grayson re-joined the Pioneers NZ Board in 2010 after resigning from the Board in 1999 to take up a position as Pioneers Pacific Area Leader. This responsibility has now been passed on to another Pioneers leader.

Born in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to missionary parents he has been directly involved in the area of missions for 30 years and has held a number of specific roles in the missions domain. Amongst these have been Deputy Field Leader of PNG field operations for Asia Pacific Christian Mission (now Pioneers), member of the International Leadership Team of Pioneers, Missions Director of Elim Church (City), Principal of a PNG Teachers Training College, Chaplain to the same College, and an accredited Pastor with a Baptist and an Elim church. He has held lead ministry roles with children, youth, worship teams, and missions in NZ churches and PNG.

For 10 years in PNG he was involved with APCM in training high school graduates to become teachers, and primary school headmasters to become teachers college lecturers for the colleges of PNG. His specific areas of experience include training, leadership and team development, student and staff evaluation, along with curriculum design and assessment. He has also been closely involved in organisational change management from Western to Indigenous leadership. Currently, as a lay leader, he is assisting a Pastoral Leadership Team with a church plant in Central Auckland. Grayson is passionate about supporting the exciting Kingdom Impact Pioneers is currently having at a Global level.

Darren (Special Projects)

Darren’s most recent formal involvement with Pioneers began in 2011 when he joined the NZ Board. Previously Darren has journeyed to Ghana with Pioneers, served in the Australian office in accounts and was involved in mobilisation within Aotearoa | New Zealand.

Born in Melbourne, he moved to Wellington in 1999 to join in the work of Urban Vision. Darren and Cheri, with their four children, now live in Palmerston North. Recently he completed his tenure as Parish Manager at All Saints Church and Project Manager of the All Saints Community Centre. A combination of Contract work, home renovations and primary parent will take up 2012.

Pioneers growth within New Zealand and across the globe make for exciting challenges. Darren’s financial training and strategic skills will assist the NZ board as it seeks to further develop its operational structures in preparation for future growth.