Speakers

Omar Djoeandy

Omar’s first experience with SIM was in 1983, when he spent a four month medical elective in Evangel Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. Through this, God confirmed his calling to Africa. After a few years of medical work, he became a Youth Ministry intern at his Baptist church in Sydney. In 1986, at the age of 25, he went to Kenya to study for a Master of Divinity at NEGST (Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology). He thought, “While learning the Bible I can learn the culture and issues of Africa, build great friendships and have cross-cultural coaches.” God enabled him to achieve all that. His Kenyan roommate Oscar Muriu, became the Senior Pastor of Nairobi Chapel in 1989, an interdenominational church that in 15 years grew from about 30 people to over 2,500.

In 1998, after working as a General Practitioner Locum in Sydney, Omar joined Nairobi Chapel as the only non-Kenyan Pastor. His responsibilities included Adult and children’s ministries, leadership training, and short-term missions. His wife Kay was involved with Children’s ministries and parenting seminars.

In 2004, Omar began serving as the Australian Director of SIM. He was sent out as a pastor of Nairobi Chapel to serve in his role here in Australia. Omar and Kay have three children. Eric (12) and Rachel (10) were born in Sydney, Stephen (7) was born in Nairobi.

Sunny Phillip

Sunny served with Interserve in India for nine years, plus has worked and taught in cross-cultural situations and discipleship programs with Operation Mobilisation and Interserve.

More recently he has served as the National Ministry Coordinator with Interserve, and in 2007 joined the staff at Swanston Street Church of Christ, Melbourne.

He recently completed his doctoral thesis on 'Spirituality and Burnout in Christian Medical Professionals in India' and is the author of Footprints in Water which explores faith and suffering.