Jesus Club Conference 2024

Jesus Club Conference 2024 is primarily for volunteer coordinators and leaders who help run the Jesus Club program as part of the ministry in their local church. However, the Conference is also open to the general public and we encourage anyone to attend who is interested in how the local church can effectively connect with and communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to adults with intellectual disabilities.

This year the Conference is run both in-person in Sydney CBD and live-streamed online. We encourage everyone to attend the in-person venue to maximise networking opportunities with coordinators and leaders from other clubs as well as meet the keynote speakers. 

This year we have an amazing lineup of high profile keynote speakers from across Australia who will encourage us to think about what it means for people of all abilities to Belong at Jesus Club and the wider Christian church community. This includes Mike Bird & Naomi Bird from Ridley College, Louise Gosbell from Australian College of Theology, Bec Baines from Youthworks, and Archie Poulos from Moore College, along with hearing from and networking with our local club coordinators on a variety of topics.

• At-venue tickets include a delicious catered morning-tea and lunch. 
• The live-stream will be recorded and made available to all registered delegates.

Our key theme for this Conference is Belonging: What does it mean to belong at Jesus Club and the wider Christian church community?

Rev. Dr Mike Bird

Michael Bird is Deputy Principal at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is an Anglican priest and New Testament scholar. He has taught previously at the Brisbane School of Theology and Highland Theological College. He is the author of several books on the New Testament, Theology, and Church History. Michael shares the vision of a church where people of various abilities are loved, included, and cherished, and their carers are supported.

Mike will speak on “From Tolerance to Inclusion: Christian Ethics of Hospitality, Healing, and Holistic Ministry.”

Dr Louise Gosbell

Dr Louise Gosbell has spent many years researching and writing in disability and in various aspects of disability ministry. Louise’s PhD on the New Testament (Macquarie University) focused on disability in the gospels and Louise continues to research and write on disability in the Bible and in church contexts. Louise served for 15 years as the Sydney Coordinator for CBM’s Luke 14 program training churches in disability inclusion. In 2021, Louise worked with the Social Issues Committee of the Sydney Anglican Diocese to release a set of accessibility guidelines for churches on disability inclusion called “Everyone Welcome: Accessible church for all.” Louise also served on the Jesus Club committee for six years and ran the Jesus Club at MBM Rooty Hill for two years.

Louise is married to Mark and they have 3 grown-up-ish daughters.

Louise will speak on “What does it mean to belong at Jesus Club?” Commencing with a theological framework for belonging, Louise will draw on her own experience as a Jesus Club coordinator, giving practical guidance for how Jesus Club coordinators and leaders can ensure their clubs are places of belonging for members.

Rev. Dr Archie Poulos

Archie is married to Ainsley and they have three adult children. Archie has been head of the Ministry Department at Moore College and Director of the Centre for Ministry Development (CMD), and in 2025 will focus more on serving graduates through CMD. Archie has been involved in Jesus Club almost from its inception and his son has been a member for the past five years. 

Archie will speak about "A body – parts serving a part and a part serving the body".

Rev. Bec Baines

Bec has worked in parish ministry for 11 years in Children’s and Youth ministry and has a lifetime of lived experience of disability in various contexts. Bec has a passion for people with disability to know Jesus and to support families in caring roles and is keen to help churches in this way.

Bec will speak about teaching the Bible to people with intellectual disability. This session will include discussion on using the Jesus Club modules and a first look at a new resource being developed between Jesus Club and Patricia Weerakoon.

Naomi Bird

Naomi Bird is a wife, mum and lover of Jesus and Coffee. Naomi is a native Qlder but moved to Melbourne 12 years ago for her husband, Mike Bird, to start work at Ridley. Naomi and Mike are the proud parents to 4 growing children. Naomi has volunteered in many ministry roles, Playgroup Coordinator, Sunday school teacher, Regional Coordinator for MOPS Australia (Now The MUMco) and more. In 2019 God called her to work in children's ministry at our own church for 5 year where she has been able to focus more on disability and church. Naomi now works for CMS-A at St Andrew's Hall as Office manager. Naomi has a special interest in Disability and Ministry and how we can best support Neuro diverse children and families in church and mission.

Naomi will speak on being a carer and how we can support carers in our church and ministry. She will hare her experience of parenting their son, Markus, who is on the Autism spectrum. She addresses the joys and challenges of parenting Markus, what’s been most helpful and unhelpful in the process of parenting him, and what they have learned about God through Markus. She stresses the importance of recognising that everyone is made in the image of God, and that within the Church we are all members of the Body of Christ with unique giftings and experiences.

Please share this event with anyone you know that could benefit from attending this conference in-person or online. 

(All registered delegates - in-person or online - will receive the video recordings of the Conference. So, if you are unavailable on the day please do register and you will receive the recordings.)