About Us


Together for the Illawarra

We are a collobaration of Christians in the Illawarra.

Together for the Illawarra is inspired by and through a relationship built among churches and Christian leaders through many years and also Illawarra Prayer Breakfast. Together for the Illawarra is a consultation & collaborative process exploring areas of common interest, focusing on Community Engagement, Evangelism & Prayer.

 



Together for the Illawarra is a collaboration of Christians in the Illawarra.

It is inspired by and through a relationship built among churches and Christian leaders through many years and also Illawarra Prayer Breakfast. Together for the Illawarra is a consultation & collaborative process exploring areas of common interest, focusing on Community Engagement, Evangelism & Prayer.

Together for the Illawarra organisation is formally formed in July 2020, almost one year anniversary of our first consultation workshop attended by 60 Christian leaders across the region. 

 


 

Ministry Team  

Hengki Widjaja 

Hengki Widjaja lives in Illawarra, NSW since he came to Australia to complete his study at the University of Wollongong.
He and his wife, Lidia, have been serving a local church, Life Centre Wollongong in the region. 
They both have the heart for unity and what the churches can do together for the betterment of their region. 
In addition to his day-to-day role in his tech company, he serves in a few Christian initiatives locally and nationally; Illawarra Prayer Breakfast, Movement Day Australia, Food for Life and Australian Heart Ministries.
 

Nathaniel Marsh

Nathaniel Marsh has been married to his beautiful wife Jodi since 2004, and together they have 5 gorgeous girls.  Nat is a video producer, cinematographer, musician, and along with his family, is actively involved at Awaken Church Wollongong.

Operating Marsh Media trading as TVU Productions, a Film & TV Production Company with offices in Sydney & Wollongong, Nat has produced around 3,000 pieces of content & delivered over 1 million DVDs for a wide range of clients within the Government, Corporate & Not-for-profit sectors.

He has also travelled widely performing music & filming documentaries, worked as a freelance cameraman for ABC News, Channel 7 News and Channel 10 News and produced TV programs for SBS & The Lifestyle Channel.  Since 2011 much of Nat"s work has been for various NSW Government Departments, and some of his corporate clients over the years have included BHP, BMG, Colgate-Palmolive, GPT Group & Honda Australia.

Nat is also a Board Member of Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation and is passionate to see the Body of Christ collaborating across the Illawarra. 

David Eldridge

David came to faith in Christ 30+ years ago. He is passionate to see the Illawarra community to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and how churches can express God's mandate for Christians both inside and outside the churches, in the community.

He has served in a few local initiatives such as Chairman of the Wollongong Hospital Children"s Ward Appeal Committee (Deregistered), Recipient of Wollongong Citizen of the Year 2000, Board member of Pulse 94.1 and as the Fundraising Director of Harvest 2000 Crusade. 

His strategy thinking and heart for the expression of the gospel here in the Illawarra are valuable contributions to the team.

Warwick Marsh

Warwick Marsh has been married to Alison Marsh since 1975 and they have five children and eight grandchildren and he and his wife live in Wollongong in NSW, Australia. He is a family & faith advocate, social reformer, musician, TV producer, writer and public speaker.

In 1990 Warwick left the building Industry and he and his wife travelled extensively throughout Australia performing in many aboriginal communities, country towns, schools, pubs, jails, and churches. They also traveled around the world with their musical family performing & recording their original music and sharing the message of faith, family, hope and love. 

In 1998 he received a Father of the Year Award in the NSW Parliament.  In 2001 Warwick received a Centenary Medal from Australia’s Prime Minister for his Mission work and his work with Aboriginal people and youth.

In 2002 Warwick & Alison Marsh established the Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation to encourage fathers and promote excellence in fathering through web, TV, radio, research and policy development, educational programs and training the trainer.

Warwick is passionate to encourage men to be great fathers and to know the greatest Father of all. The Father in whom “there is no shadow of turning.”

Ron Thomas

Ron is a Church Planter with a heart for those who don't yet know God"s grace and those seeking to fulfil God"s call. Ron and Heather planted Citylife Church Wollongong and rejoice in the grace of God that has built the Church into a strong and outward-focused fellowship. Church Planting and reaching the Unreached motivate Ron and his team in building God’s Kingdom both locally and internationally. 

Ron has had regional oversight responsibilities for Australian Christian Churches on the South Coast of NSW and completed post-graduate studies focusing on leadership development, reaching the unchurched and cross-cultural ministry applications. He is married to Heather and they have four children and six grandchildren.

 


 

Statement of Believe

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Amen.

Nicene Creed

WE BELIEVE in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

 

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

 

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.