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Welcome to
LIFE CHURCH
SUNDAY SERVICES
Our Sunday services are full of life!
Join us for church each Sunday. Whether you have never been to church before or have been going for years, you will find a friendly community and a great time to connect with God. We love to worship, pray, hear from the Word of God and have Spirit filled ministry.
COMING 2026
MONA VALE
4pm
All ages
We’re excited to introduce a new
late-afternoon service near you!
Led by Joey, this relaxed and welcoming gathering offers a space for community to grow together, enjoy worshipping together, and discover more about what faith in Jesus looks like.
Join us!
HABERFIELD
10am
All ages (with a kids program available)
Our Haberfield community is thriving and growing, with people of all ages joining us each week. Under the caring leadership of Elise, this vibrant community continues to flourish as a welcoming space for connection, faith, and belonging.
MANLY
10am
All ages (with a kids program available)
Bursting with life, our 10am service led by Joey offers something for everyone, with a welcoming atmosphere that caters to all ages. Whether you're new or a regular, be sure to grab a free coffee from the cart before the service.
MANLY
4:30pm
All ages (with a kids program available)
For families juggling busy Sunday mornings with sports and other commitments, our new late afternoon service in Manly is here for you.
Run by Kirrily, our afternoon pastor, it’s a relaxed and welcoming space designed to help you connect, worship, and recharge.
MANLY
6pm
Young adults & all ages
With regular events—from s'mores around the firepit to pizza dinners—Lani is passionate about creating a place where people can genuinely connect and grow in community. While it’s especially designed with young adults in mind, everyone is welcome to be part of the journey.
MEET THE TEAM
SENIOR PASTOR
Tim pioneered this amazing church community over 12 years ago with his wife Victoria. They are the proud parents of Hope and Luca. He spent 6 years overseas in his 20’s, volunteering with African Enterprise in Kenya, working in consulting in London and studying theology at Regent College in Vancouver. Tim is an ordained Reverend in the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT. He is also the Chaplain up at the International College of Management in Manly.
Contact: tim.giovanelli@manlylife.org
MANLY MORNING PASTOR
Joey is the morning service pastor at Manly Life Church and looks after Monday night bible college and Life Groups. Joey is married to Bec and has 4 wonderful kids. He is a gifted preacher, worship leader and pastor. Joey has studied at Morling College and also owns and runs Selah Music. That means he is up at church a lot!
Contact: joey@manlylife.org
MANLY AFTERNOON PASTOR
Kirrily has over 20 years of experience in pastoring across Sydney. She is passionate about building a loving, inclusive community. Together with her husband Dave, they are the parents of 3 incredible girls (a toddler, a tween and a teenager!). We are so excited to see what God has in store for this next chapter, with Kirrily leading our new afternoon service!
Contact: kirrily.smeallie@manlylife.org
MANLY EVENING PASTOR
Lani is our evening service pastor at Manly Life Church . She also oversees the young adults Life Groups. Lani is married to Dan and has a beautiful baby boy! You can often find Lani and Dan surfing together, involved in mission work in Fiji and hanging out over good coffee! Lani is an incredible leader for our young adults, a great preacher and has such a heart for discipling the next generation.
Contact: lani@manlylife.org
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HABERFIELD PASTOR
Elise is our campus pastor at Haberfield Life Church. Originally from California, she has called Australia home for 10 years. Elise has a long history with YWAM, has studied at Morling College and is a gifted preacher and community builder. Elise lives in the Inner West and is excited to see Haberfield Life come alive.
Contact: elise@manlylife.org
HABERFIELD KIDS MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Purity leads kids church at Haberfield and Playtime on Tuesday mornings. Purity is originally from Kenya and is in Australia studying business. Purity captivates the kids and she has a great passion for making faith real and alive for them. If you’d like to help with kids church or Playtime at Haberfield, Purity would love to hear from you.
Contact: purity@manlylife.org
HABERFIELD WORSHIP COORDINATOR
Josh is our Worship Coordinator at Haberfield and brings years of experience and passion for worship to our Sunday services and mid week worship nights. We are also fortunate to have Josh at evening services in Manly and in the young adult community. If you’d like to join the band at Haberfield, Josh would love to hear from you!
Contact Josh: josh@manlylife.org
HABERFIELD WORSHIP COORDINATOR
Josh is our Worship Coordinator at Haberfield and brings years of experience and passion for worship to our Sunday services and mid week worship nights. We are also fortunate to have Josh at evening services in Manly and in the young adult community. If you’d like to join the band at Haberfield, Josh would love to hear from you!
Contact Josh: josh@manlylife.org
KIDS AND YOUTH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Tanja leads and coordinates our kids ministry on Sunday mornings, the younger youth on Friday nights and oversees scripture in the local primary school. Tanja is originally from Germany but has made Australia home and has a huge passion for kids and them knowing Jesus! She currently studies at Morling Bible College. If you are interested in kids ministry or have kids at Manly Life, please don’t hesitate to contact Tanja!
Contact: tanja@manlylife.org
MANLY KIDS MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Janna leads our brilliant creche and pre-school kids church programs on Sunday mornings at Manly Life and all of the wonderful volunteers who serve each week. She also helps out at Playtime. Janna is originally from the Philippines and is now living on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. She loves the kids and the kids love her!
MANLY KIDS MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Jess is passionate about Kid's Church ministry. We are so grateful to have her on board our Manly Life team :)
MANLY YOUTH MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Jess is a young woman with many talents! She has been part of Manly United football for 10 years and has recently stepped away from sports to focus on her studies. Jess is also an incredibly talented musician.
She is passionate about youth and we're excited to see what this next chapter brings for her at Manly Life Church!
WORSHIP COORDINATOR MANLY AM
Magda is our amazing Worship Co-ordinator at Manly Life! Magda can often be found leading our times of worship or in the band. She can be found leading from the piano or on vocals. Magda is married to Rob and has two beautiful children. She originally hails from Sweden but has spent considerable time in the US, Africa and now calls Australia home.
Contact: magda@manlylife.org
WORSHIP COORDINATOR MANLY PM
Sam is a passionate musician and worshipper who looks after our evening service worship team! He is a core member of One Body Worship and loves bringing people together in worship from all around Sydney and Australia. His heart for serving was birthed at his parent’s church where he spent 18 years of his life before joining Manly Life. He’s apart of Christian Surfers Manly and loves spending time in the ocean, dwelling in Gods creation!
Contact: samlowe765@gmail.com
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR OF LIFE CHURCH
Anja is our Operations Director across both campuses. She looks after the facilities, following people up and coordinates all of the welcome, hospitality and events at Life Church. She is married to Alistair and mum to Chris and Chloe. Anja is passionate about the local church and loves seeing people find community and purpose in the body of Christ. If you come to Life Church, you will be sure to meet Anja!
Contact: anja@manlylife.org
Joining God in bringing
LIFE to our community...
VISION & VALUES
The following is our vision, values and beliefs for Life Church. Further, the constitution is available by request. This outlines our governance, beliefs and affiliation with the Baptist Churches of NSW and ACT. Plus a link to our Safe Church Policy can be found at the bottom of the page.
JOINING GOD
Joining God – through repentance and faith we have been adopted as sons and daughters of the living God. We join God in being one with Christ, committed to his way and mission.
BRINGING LIFE
The Zoë life of God that has been given to us by His Spirit is what we carry and share as we meet together and go in mission. It is divinely breathed, eternal, extraordinary and loving.
TO OUR COMMUNITY
This is the greater region of Sydney where we seek to see God’s kingdom planted through a community of His followers.
OUR VISION
To build a loving Christian community that grows, as we know God, walk in His presence and seek His kingdom coming in our area
OUR CORE VALUES
Our core values are the underlying principles that guide us in making decisions, determining priorities, setting goals, allocating resources and carrying out programs. They are the defining characteristics of Life Church and are drawn from biblical teachings.
TO OUR COMMUNITY
This is the greater region of Sydney where we seek to see God’s kingdom planted through a community of His followers.
WE VALUE THE GOSPEL
AS GOOD NEWS
The Gospel is the power and love of God for salvation and transformation. Everything we do is in alignment with Jesus, who is the good news of God’s grace to heal humanity’s brokenness. (Rom 1:16, John 3:16, Luke 19:10)
WE VALUE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THE FATHER
We are passionate about worshipping God in Spirit and truth, walking in our true identity as sons and daughters and experiencing his unconditional love. Our relationship grows through prayer, scripture and time with God (John 14:6-13, Luke 15:11-32, Rom 8:35-39, Luke 5:16)
WE VALUE BUILDING KINGDOM COMMUNITY
We believe in the power of authentic Christ-centred kingdom community expressing love for God and one another through gathering, hospitality, generosity, compassion and forgiveness. All are to be loved, honoured and have a role to play in the community. (1 Pe 2:9-10, Acts 2:42-47, 1 Co 12:12-31)
WE VALUE THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE
We desire to be known as people of God’s presence continuing the works of Jesus. It is the Spirit of God who assures us of our adoption, who transforms our character and empowers us with gifts to serve. We seek God’s presence in our meetings and in our mission. (Rom 8:15-16, Gal 5:22-25, 1 Co 12:4-11, Acts 2:42-47)
OUR BELIEFS
Life Church holds to the evangelical doctrines set out in the Baptist Union of NSW Incorporation Act 1919 (NSW) and the Statement of Beliefs within the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT Constitution.
Alongside the denominational doctrines, our constitution outlines our beliefs in our own words as such.
We believe; There is only one true God who is the eternal King, Creator and Redeemer of all that is. He is perfectly holy, just, loving and truthful. He has revealed Himself to be eternally self-existent – one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Bible to be the inspired and authoritative Word of God.
Humankind was created in the image of God to know and enjoy Him yet we willfully rejected the Lordship and glory of God for which we were intended. Because of this, sickness, death and judgment entered the world and now creation experiences the effects and consequences of sin.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God, was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, Mary, and is God’s Anointed One, empowered by the Holy Spirit to inaugurate God’s Kingdom on earth. He was crucified for our sins, died, was buried, resurrected and ascended into heaven, and is now alive today, in the presence of God the Father and in His people. He is “true God” and “true man.”
We are saved by God’s grace, through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Anyone can be restored to fellowship with God through repenting, believing and receiving Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates, justifies, and adopts us as we enter the Kingdom of God as His sons and daughters.
In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life and minister using the gifts God gives his children. The baptism of the Holy Spirit according to Acts 1:4-8 and 2:4 is poured out on believers that they might have God’s power to be His witnesses.
The victorious redemptive work of Christ on the cross gives power for freedom from the enemy including his lies, sin, sickness and torment.
The Church consists of all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. He gave his church the ordinances of Baptism and Communion. The Church exists to carry on the ministry of Jesus Christ and further advance His kingdom by undoing the works of the enemy, preaching and living the good news of God’s love, discipling the nations, baptizing and teaching them to love and obey God.
In the ever-increasing government of God and in the Blessed Hope, which is the glorious visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign with His overcoming bride—the church.
There will be a resurrection of the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting death.
SAFE CHURCH
Life Church is committed to providing places, services and programs that promote physical, emotional and spiritual health and safety and model the love of Christ to all whom we have contact with, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Our Safe Church Team consists of the following individuals who are available at any time for you to contact:
Tanja Gruber (Manly) – Phone: 0412 018 079 or Email: tanja@manlylife.org
Tim Giovanelli (Manly/Haberfield)– Phone: 0404 076 504 or Email: tim.giovanelli@manlylife.org
Elise Takashima (Haberfield) – Phone: 0421 432 470 or Email: elise@manlylife.org