About Us

Pete’s Salvation Journey

Pete grew up in the small town of Tokoroa in New Zealand. Abandoned by his birth parents, he was adopted into a local family. During his early years he experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

School was a real struggle for Pete due to the abuse as well as severe dyslexia.

When Pete was 13 years old he was taken under the mentorship of someone he would look up to as a father figure in the greyhound industry. Pete found his place and for the first time felt wanted and needed.

Unfortunately, when Pete was 17 years of age, this man took his own life. At thte cemetery I felt something saying to him the peace you long for, the peace you seek, search me and you shall find me.

This led him on our journey of trying to find that peace.

There was the Agape Inn at the church on Friday nights, where he heard there was free games and food. Pete met Cecil who introduced him to the youth group. On the Saturday they went water skiing. It was there he had a vision of all the youth standing on the beach with arms welcoming him.

The next day he went to church at night and then talked to Tim the youth pastor and asked him if God was so kind and loving, why was this stuff happening in my life., His reply said I don’t know why but have you asked the devil. After that comment, he asked Jesus into his life.

That night the peace he had been looking for came.

Because it takes a community to raise someone, it was because of people like George who discipled Pete and Ross and Beryl whom he lived with for a few years. They showed him what it was like to belong and be a part of a family. He left Tokoroa for a year to attend The Bible College of New Zealand and to his surprise actually passed the course.

In 1991 he attended the School of The Power Evangelist in Queensland, Australia.

Ministry Background

  • Youth & Children’s Pastor (16 years in NZ)
  • Deacon
  • Ushering team
  • Sound technician
  • Church board member
  • Youth conference and camp organiser
  • Marriage seminar speaker
  • Missionary (14 years)
  • Local church ministry
  • Evangelism teacher
  • Co-Founder of BeyondWater

Sharon’s Salvation Journey

Sharon grew up in the same town as Pete, but that didn’t know each other until she turned 16.

She too was from a non-christian family, with the only time of attending church at weddings and funerals. Her mother suffered from cancer and one weekend when she was away for therapy, her father also had a meeting in Wellington. A neighbour suggested that the four children stay with members of The Salvation Army because ‘that’s what they do’. Sharon and her younger sister stayed with the Corps Officers.

They kept going to services there out of obligation. It wasn’t until a Youth For Christ rally took place where the Lord spoke to her and she gave her life to Christ.

Ministry Background

  • Inter-School Christian Fellowship leader
  • Youth & Children’s Pastor (16 years in NZ)
  • Worship leader
  • Ushering team
  • Women’s minister
  • Youth conference and camp organiser
  • Marriage seminar speaker
  • Missionary (14 years)
  • Local church ministry
  • Co-Founder of BeyondWater

At the end of 1987 Pete and Sharon married, a few years later they had two girls, Liz and Hannah. Liz serves as part of the ministry team of BeyondWater. Hannah and her husband Luke serve as part of the worship and music team at Eastlake Church, Mandurah, Western Australia.

Sharon and Pete serve the pastors and vision of Frontrunnerz, the young professional service at the International Christian Centre, Nairobi (https://iccnairobi.org/). Their role is to mentor, encourage and pray for the young people. They are known as the ‘vintage youth pastors’.