Meet the Team!

Pastor Jeff McGregor

Pastor Jeff joined Living Waters Christian Community in 2020, bringing with him more than fifteen years of experience serving in a variety of pastoral and ministry leadership roles. He is passionate about helping people know Jesus Christ, grow in their faith, and be transformed by the truth of God’s Word. His ministry is centred on faithful expository preaching, believing that as Scripture is taught clearly and applied faithfully, God works powerfully in the lives of His people.

Jeff holds a Master of Ministry degree and a PhD in Theology and ministers from a conservative evangelical conviction. He is deeply committed to the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, the historic truths of the Christian faith, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the church.

Jeff is married to Emma, and together they have an adult son and a teenage daughter. As a family, they count it a joy and privilege to be part of the Living Waters community. Their desire is to see people come to know Christ, grow in their love for God and His Word, discover their place in the body of Christ, and faithfully live out the gospel in their everyday lives.

 

 

Karina Bates

Karina Bates, married for 39 years, have two adult children, and three granddaughters. Karina has been the church secretary for 11 years. She also works for a local law firm and has almost completed her Cert IV in Legal Studies to formalise her work as a Paralegal Secretary. In her leisure time she enjoys swimming, kayaking, reading, quiz nights,  long walks, Scrabble (rule number one: no friends in Scrabble! l LOL) and spending time with family and friends.

Karina’s favourite Bible verse is Romans 8: 38-39

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 

Richard Saunders

Richard has been serving as a Church Elder for the past seven years and has been part of the Living Water Community congregation since around 2000. He is passionate about seeing the church flourish and grow, with a strong desire to build deeper fellowship across the church family beyond Sundays. Richard is also committed to helping develop a clear and meaningful strategic vision for the church’s role in Loxton. He is keen to see people grow in their understanding of God through becoming familiar with their Bibles.

 

Tim Smythe 

Tim is married to his wife Margot and together they have two sons. They have been fellowshipping at Living Waters since 2022. Collectively, they seek to use their skills to serve within the church community and enjoy the relationships that develop while working side by side in God’s family.

Tim knows the saving grace of God and His sufficiency in all things. He brings an analytical mindset that focuses on clear priorities, next steps, and connectedness.

 

Richard Wood

Richard is currently a Deacon on the board at, Living Waters Christian Community. He studied Agricultural Science at University of Adelaide 1962-65 and joined the SA Department of Agriculture in 1966. Initially based in Adelaide and worked on a research project in the Murray Mallee until end 1969. He married Carolyn in March 1969 and moved to Cleve on Eyre Peninsula to an extended position in Soil Conservation in January 1970. He and his wife were blessed with four daughters Adele, Claire, Margot and Fleur. They moved to Loxton in 1975 with the SA Dept of Agriculture and worked in Soil conservation and later, Agronomy. They have lived at the same address in Loxton since January 1979! Richard retired from the Public Service in 2000 and have taken up many volunteer service roles including Loxcare, Pichi Richi Railway, Loxton Historical Village and since 2019, the Loxton Community Heritage Group Inc. and of course, Board Member of Loxton Church of Christ Inc. Carolyn and I continue to be part of the Christian faith community in Loxton, and we keep in regular contact with our eight grand children (4 boys and 4 girls) aged between 12 & 26! Family is very important to us.

 

 

Christine Staben

Christine was born in 1948 and raised in Pyap along the river. She married Bill in 1968 and together they had 4 sons. She is a grandmother to 10 beautiful grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Christine and Bill moved around over the years and finally came back to settle in Loxton in 1994. Her family have been blessed to fellowship at Living Waters for many years. Praise God for His faithfulness.

 

 

 

Leanne Montgomery

Leanne has been a faithful member of Living Waters Christian Community Church in Loxton for over 30 years. A retired registered nurse and midwife, she has dedicated much of her life to caring for others, both professionally and within the community. Leanne is a proud mother of four children and grandmother to ten grandchildren. As a widow, she continues to serve with grace and commitment, contributing her time and wisdom on a number of local boards and committees throughout Loxton. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing bridge and expressing her creativity through art. Leanne’s enduring faith, community spirit, and servant heart have been a blessing to many.

 

 

Denis Tilley

Denis, who celebrated his 80th birthday this year, has been a well-known and respected member of the Loxton community for many years. A long-time local business owner, Denis established Low Cost Furniture and continues his successful Riverland Removals business. He has also been a dedicated member of Living Waters Christian Community Church for more than 20 years, where he currently serves as a deacon and faithfully works alongside others in supporting the church and its community.