About Drew and Pippa
Drew is the youngest of five, three of whom have been in fulltime ministry and the eldest of which oversees the operational management of a church in Queensland. Drew’s parents gave their time and skills voluntarily in full-time Christian ministry to a prominent Christian Bible College, when most people simply enjoy their retirement. Christian love was demonstrative and immensely practical. The family home was always noisy, full of activity, but typified by a generous Christian hospitality.
Pippa also grew up in a home passionate about the Lord where Christ’s love was expressed in practical ways to many in need. Her parents have been faithful servants of God all their married lives. They dedicated extended periods of their retirement to assisting churches in the outback with Christian ministry and practical maintenance. They have modelled a sacrificial love for God that has impacted many lives. It was their teaching and example that brought Pippa to the Lord.
Drew and Pippa both spent the majority of their childhoods at the local Anglican churches. Having both committed their lives to Christ in their early years, they developed a love of their Lord and Saviour and His Word and both have served God voluntarily and in paid roles their entire lives.
Drew had been a volunteer leader at a Christian camp for many years and after completing a Bachelor in Economics and Marketing, he offered to fill a gap in staffing for three months. This turned into three years on full-time staff before, compelled by his passion to see young people become followers of Christ, he decided to move to a fulltime role as youth minister in the Sutherland Shire. Here, he built a large youth ministry based on relational evangelism. When this role ended, he chose to study with ACOM, since they offered a Bachelor in Theology that focused on youth ministry, believing that Youth Ministers needed to be as equipped for ministry as their adult ministry peers.
Drew and Pippa were married a year prior to Drew starting as youth minister for an Anglican Church, in Sydney’s Inner West, where together they ministered for almost 13 years, making him one of the most long serving youth ministers of the Sydney Diocese.
Pippa studied to post graduate levels in dance and choreography and from a young age desired to be a “light” in the entertainment industry. Her mission work in professional spheres occurred primarily in musical theatre and contemporary dance. She also taught at many major Australian Christian arts conferences and in the Bachelor program at a Tertiary College for Ministry and the Arts in Sydney’s Inner West for 8 years. She left her career to focus on family and support Drew in ministry.
In their forties, after 20 years in ministry and four kids, Pippa and Drew decided to have an extended break and used the time to travel Australia and pray about where God would have them next. It was the most beneficial and refreshing experience and developed their family bond beautifully. Now in primary school, their two girls are committed followers of Jesus and show great maturity of faith. The two younger boys are also committed to reading the Word daily and praying out loud with their family. As a family who love to sing, praise in song is a daily occurrence.
Drew is the most generous person Pippa has ever met. Deeply committed to practical faith, Drew’s creativity and ingenuity would enable him to sort out problems or provide for needs in a calm but industrious manner. He was committed to showing by example what James (in the Bible) meant by “doing good”. “Head, Hearts, Hands” was his motto. It described the need for our head knowledge of our Lord to be expressed wholeheartedly in our worship of God in every aspect of our lives and to be seen in the acts of our hands. Acts that show we are truly part of His Body – Jesus’ hands and feet of love to others.
Drew and Pippa both love hospitality and so they have continually hosted groups and individuals for activities, meals or extended visits. They both love to encourage, teach and build up others in the Lord and their service to Him. They have both always put ministry and family before career and financial success.
In 2012, Drew and Pippa were at a Christian Camp in Queensland and were planning to return after the summer holidays, when the shocking text message arrived which changed their lives forever. It was from the now 27-year-old former paid youth ministry assistant to Drew, AS, who had been mentored through the latter years of high school, through youth ministry training and into his own youth ministry. Drew and Pippa both regarded him as a good friend, and Drew had led prayers at AS’s wedding.
And yet with no warning AS sent Drew this email on 11 November 2011:
‘Hi Drew. I’m not interested in meeting up. I’m just coming to terms with the fact that the way you treated me as a teenager constitutes abuse (massages, forced sleeping arrangements and numerous other repeated incidents.) I’ve been talking to Professional Standards about this and am extremely concerned that you are seeking to work with children and young people (or in any form of Christian Ministry). I don’t wish to have any further contact.’
For the continuation of the story from this point, please read the other articles about this case on this website, including ‘For the Lawyers’.