Contibutors & Mentors
Carlton Johnstone
Carlton is the National Youth Ministry Development Leader for PCANZ based in Wellington. He is married to a beautiful woman named Sarah, dad to a delightful little boy called Max, avid U2 fan, movie addict and coffee drinker. His PhD research explored the challenges of the faith journey for young adults and the implications these have for belonging to a faith community. He works with local churches helping them think through and explore the kind of faith community they need to be for emerging generations.
Graham Redding
Graham is Principal of the Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership. He currently lives in Dunedin, but has ministered in churches in Auckland and Wellington. His specialty subject area is worship, which he believes needs to be more’ God-centred’ and less ‘me-centred’.
Gary Mauga
Gary is currently completing his theological studies at Carey Baptist College and a candidate for ordained ministry in the Pressie tribe. He is Samoan, born and raised in South Auckland and part of Tamaki Pacific Islander’s Presbyterian Church, Glen Innes. Married to the beautiful Suliana Mauga, he loves music, singing, basketball, laughter, eating, fellowship, fun, taking risks, mountain climbing (never), and JESUS! His passion is to live a life that points people to God!
Selwyn Yeoman
Selwyn Yeoman has been involved in various youth leadership ministries for a long time! Like, really a long time! Apart from one seven month foray onto the Tibetan Plateau in western China, the last thirty years have been spent in three parishes in the south. At present he’s part-time a parish minister and part-time writing a doctorate on how we are partners with Jesus in b r i n g i n g h o p e f o r t h e E a r t h .
Natalie Yule-Yeoman
Natalie grew up in Ponsonby during the height of the great pasifika migration, and lived in the Presbyterian manse there. Her formative musical influences were Maori and Polynesian communities, her grandfather – a Scottish coal miner turned minister, who was reputed to sing during his sermons, and the folk music of the 60’s and 70’s.
Natalie has led any number of music groups for all ages, written and directed numerous church and school musicals, recorded four albums, and performed at lots of gigs, and concerts. She teaches at George Street Normal School in Dunedin where she also has responsibility for all the Kapa Haka and much of the school’s music and Te Reo Maori. She also leads a youth band (she’s an honorary “youth”) in her local church at Caversham.
Rebecca Connor
Rebecca is a youth worker/pastor/casual ornithologist/rugby ‘enthusiast’ (fanatic is more like it)/Jesus follower/nerd/creation lover/tweeter/sports fan/geek. She hails from Auckland, and is currently based at Somervell Presbyterian Church. She begins as a Ministry Intern with the Presbyterian Church in 2012, and is hugely passionate about what God is doing with Presbyterian Youth in New Zealand!
Ang Swank
Prior to arriving in New Zealand in October 2010 Angela workedas a secondary science teacher and guidance counsellor in Michigan for the past 10 years. Angela graduated in 2003 with her Masters of Arts in ounselling from Central Michigan University. She enjoys working with young adults and adolescents. She currently is a guidance counsellor at two different schools in the Wellington
Area, and is a provisional member of the NZAC. She also enjoys supporting her husband Matt in his youth pastors role at Knox, and working as a volunteer along side him in the church youth ministry program.