Lead Pastor - Mike Yates (Michelle Yates)

Mike and Michelle Yates are following a call, in partnership with God and an exciting church plant team. That call is planting a vibrant soul winning church on the North Shore of Auckland. And this call has become a reality! They hope it will be the start of a chain of churches and mission opportunities to redeem secular Kiwis and their communities for Christ. The ongoing partnership with the NZ Wesleyan Methodist family of churches is a key area in this work.

In 1995, Mike, Michelle and family (Thomas, Reuben, Anna and Joshua) moved from New Zealand to Brisbane, Australia to train for ministry at the Nazarene Theological College. It was a big step or the Yates family, having lived most of their lives in NZ. Michelle is a registered nurse and Mike had a successful marketing career after completing a degree in business. 1995 was to mark a break from that career path into full time ministry.

In 1996, Mike was pastor of a small Wesleyan church and Kids Club on Coochiemudlo Island. In 1997 Mike accepted an invitation to a full time role as Assistant Pastor at a progressive Wesleyan Church at 'Everton Hills'. They spent four and a half enjoyable years there, involved in pastoral ministry, worship leading, teaching and outreach activities. Michelle was involved in running a mother's support group and community craft group for the unchurched and Mike, with the senior pastor, developed a venture called 'Cafe Jugglers'. This became a known venue for the Christian performing and visual arts in Brisbane.

Mike was ordained in January 2000, at the age of 39 and became associate pastor at 'Everton Hills'. Then in 2001 he moved on to become senior pastor at South Gate Community Church where he served for 2 years. In recent years Mike has been the Queensland chairman of the Aussie 'Awakening' movement that has been involved in mobilising thousands of Christians to march for Jesus as a media/public witness.

In 2001, Mike approached the NZ Wesleyan church, after a growing interest in the emerging mission work in New Zealand. Then, after much prayer and discussion, the vision for Shore Grace church started to take shape, one that would draw their passion for the lost and utilise their creative and strategic skills to connect with secular Kiwis and their communities.

Perhaps you might sense the call to 'Join the Journey' by partnering with them in this God sized vision? To contact them, or for more information write to m.yates@shoregrace.org.

Julia Vincent (Assistant Pastor)

Julia joined Shore Grace in January 2007. She has had many years of church ministry experience and prior to Shore Grace was a key worship leader for Vineyard Church, West Auckland where she attended for five years. Julia has completed a Bachelor of (Applied) Theology and Pastoral Leadership Diploma. Ordained 2009    In June 2007 she was received as a Licensed Minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church of New Zealand.
Pastor Julia is a talented singer and worship director and is fulfilling a role as a Worship and Teaching Pastor at Shore Grace.
She brings great spiritual depth and heart in her worship and teaching ministry.

Yung Han (Assistant Pastor)

Yung Han is the Korean Youth and Family Pastor.

Past Workers of Shore Grace

Click here to see who has worked at Shore Grace in the past.