Mike Allen
Mike is the Senior Minister of St John’s. He is married to Michelle, and together they have four children, a bunch of bikes, one cat, and lots of fun!
He studied Business Information Technology at UNSW and, after working as a software engineer in the city, completed a Ministry Apprenticeship before studying theology at Moore Theological College.
Originally from the country, Mike has served in churches across Sydney, but feels particularly at home near the sea. He now leads the church at Maroubra, where he loves expounding God’s word and, through that, seeing God’s people nurtured, trained, and encouraged to reach out to others with the good news about Jesus Christ.
Marilyn Sheens
Marilyn is our Community Chaplain. She has been a High School teacher and registered psychologist supporting children and families for over twenty years. Her work has involved extensive trauma training to support churches and communities facing crises. She is also a voluntary Hospital chaplain and Disaster Recovery Chaplain. Marilyn is married to Bob, and they have three adult children and four grandsons. She enjoys year-round swimming, sport and long walks as well as music, studying theology and reading crime fiction.
Heather Steinmetz
Heather is Seniors’ Pastor and has responsibility for growing a prayer culture at St John’s. Heather works part-time plus some volunteer hours in areas outside her role. She is a Grandma to four and Great-Grandma to one. Fortunately, two of her grandkids are in Prague, so she HAS to travel there occasionally. She loves words and can be found uttering to herself the phrase ‘twas brillig and the slithy toves’. Some of the words she loves are even understandable. Did we say she loves prayer and seeks to lead others in prayer? Amen.
Evelyn Defina
Evelyn is our Families and Women’s Pastor (honorary), bringing to the role her experience as a psychologist working with children, adolescents and families with diverse backgrounds and challenges. Supporting families to raise their own kids and teens in the faith, is her vision with Thriving Families. Alongside this she spends time with women, side by side, helping them delve deeper into their walk with Jesus and God’s vision for them personally. She also lends her support to staff where she can, for the common good of our community. Trained in dance/dance ministry, and a lifetime ago, was in ministry with Excelsia College, Evelyn loves to dance, pray and read God’s Word all at the same time! She’s married to Pete and has 2 adult children, Natasha now married to John, and Lewis.
Linda Billingham
Linda takes delight in spending time with the kids, be it her own four or the mob at church. With a background in music teaching, Linda oversees the Sunday kids church programme at St John’s. It is her joy to facilitate moments of fun, frivolity and learning, as God’s Spirit continually grows the faith of these children. Linda also co-ordinates Scripture in our local churches, which seeks to spread the hope of Jesus in our local schools. She is married to Jonathan, who works as Dean of Residence at New College, where they live surrounded by hundreds of university students.
Christine Bethune
Chris joined staff in July 2026 in her 1st year of a Ministry Training Program (MTP). She spends her weeks in all our kids and youth ministries including NewSong, BRAVO, Roast Youth, SRE, and KAOS, and is enjoying learning about church communications and social media. She has a background in professional contemporary dance and loves to bring movement into kid’s ministry to further the spread of the gospel in new ways! She lives with 4 wonderful Christian girls, and loves spending her days off snorkeling, dancing, and finding live music whenever possible.
