Connecting with Cross Connect
Cross Connect is overseen by a group of like-minded Christians from diverse backgrounds. These have formed a board to administrate and support this resource. In addition there is a growing core of key contributors who have provided their own material for the edification of the Church.
REV DR JOHN YATES
John was born in Melbourne in 1951 to working-class parents and raised primarily in Adelaide. He navigated a complex educational journey before scraping into Flinders University, where he slid into severe depression and paranoia. Through providential circumstances, reading the Bible, and connecting with campus Christians, John experienced a profound conversion, met his wife Donna—whom he married in 1975—and was called to high school teaching in biology, science, and mathematics. Led from a Baptist fellowship to Ridley College, an Evangelical Anglican institution, he topped his course across Australia, initiating a path in ministry that took him through Victorian country parishes, a PhD in philosophical theology in Brisbane, and a move to Perth in 1988 to work with university students. Across decades marked by painful rejections, friction with senior leadership, a church split, a church plant, a house church network, and ministry across diverse denominations, a long journey of inner healing committed John deeply to church unity through prayer. Now lecturing at Tabor College Perth with a focus on Christology, ministering principally with men, visiting Myanmar regularly, and establishing marketplace networks for Christian professionals in Western Australia, John today hosts The Mystery Is Christ podcast, dedicated to passing on "the testimony of Jesus the Spirit of prophecy" to future generations.
PETER NIXON
A child of multi-generational faith, a Christian from early youth, happily married 'above my grade' (as he puts it) and blessed with two sons, Peter is an accountant by qualification, small businessman by practice, with a deep pastoral heart to serve others. Other than prayer, his work at Cross Connect involves being an amateur videographer, image capturer, and general organisational gopher. Peter has been “peculiarly and richly blessed” through more than 25 years of friendship and fellowship with John and Donna. During this time, Peter's lifelong head-knowledge of "Christ in you, the hope of glory", has grown into transforming heart-appreciation (praise the Lord!).
JUAN PEREZ
Juan has been a lawyer and run businesses for over 25 years and is a devoted husband and father. Juan specialises in the areas of commercial, intellectual property, franchising, finance and employment law. He also has more than 15 years of experience in executive leadership roles and regularly advises financial institutions on regulatory engagement. He brings this wealth of professional experience and his personal commitment to Jesus to help Cross Connect. Juan is no stranger to the cross.
RICHARD SIMPSON
Richard is married and has two adult children. He lives in Perth and works in his family property business and is blessed to be a member of a faithful Anglican Church in Dalkeith. A radically transforming encounter with Jesus and his forgiveness continues to empower him to walk joyfully through the many pains and trials of life. Richard is passionate about restoring a vision of the “transfigured humanity of Jesus Christ” to everyone he meets. He has undergraduate degrees in Environmental Design and Media and advanced degrees in Language Studies, Theology, and Architecture. This diverse background helps him guide the creative elements of Cross Connect. He is also a contributor of devotional and teaching material on the site which he trusts will bless the Church (especially in Myanmar) and anyone whom the Lord may give “ears to hear ” (Rev 3:22).
DONNA YATES
Born in Adelaide in 1955 to a midwife and electrical engineer turned Maths teacher, she was the eldest of four children and gave her life to Jesus at an Easter youth camp at 14. While studying for her B.Ec. and Dip.Ed. at Flinders University, her faith was permanently consolidated through a deep experience of the Holy Spirit, and she met John, whom she married in 1975. Together they navigated a calling across Australia—raising two young children in Melbourne while John studied at Ridley College, moving to Anglican ministry in Shepparton and Wodonga where two more children were born, and enduring a traumatic stage in Brisbane while John completed his doctorate, where she learned to hear God’s voice anew in the midst of hardship. After relocating to Perth for parish ministry, she weathered both hurtful and wonderful times as a parish priest’s wife, discovering a passion for small-group women’s ministry and writing poems that became prayers when traditional prayer was difficult. At age 50, a diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer further deepened her dependence, trust, and thankfulness toward her heavenly Father. Today, with a Kingdom of God perspective forged through every chapter, she remains profoundly grateful for her journey, her five adult children, and the eight grandchildren she knows she might never have met this side of Eternity without God’s healing grace.
JOSH OLIVER
Josh has attained a Bachelor of Ministry and is praying toward his next steps while working in local wholesale. He is a man with a love for Christ and for His Church leading to prayerful study and a constant re-evaluation of truth in light of, “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 4.6), in order to have his mind made ever-more Christlike. Josh is an interlocutor with John in, The Mystery is Christ podcast and has provided some very edifying devotional meditations.
O’ Lord Jesus, grant that in your Light I will see light; for with you is the Fountain of Life, the gift of the Holy Spirit. (cf. Psa. 36.9; John 7.37-39).
AMIT KHAIRA
Amit is devoted to seeing young people and their communities discover hope, belonging and purpose in Jesus. He is an ordained minister with Churches of Christ WA and holds a Master’s in Theological Studies, with over 20 years of experience across youth work, education, NFP, pastoral care and cross-cultural mission on three continents. This helps him bridge the worlds of church, school and community. With a love for Jesus, his wife Skye and their four children, the next generation, and the cities of the UTC+8 region, Amit carries a simple conviction: there is no story in all of creation that is beyond redemption.
JENNY COX
Dr.Jenny Cox (Jenny) has been a follower of Christ since 1982. Jenny and Peter have been married since 1984 and have four adult children. Jenny has worked as a school teacher, been a full-time mother and lectured theology. She has also written academic books on disability theology and intersex theology, and non-academic books on a variety of topics, plus some academic articles (on disability and the ministry of women), many devotional articles and a blog. Jenny has taught in several churches over many years. She currently attends an evangelical Anglican Church. When not teaching theology, Jenny ponders theological topics, does cross-stitch, reads (fiction and non-fiction), watches science fiction and police procedurals, and dreams of one day writing a novel.
NOAH LAKSHAMALLA
Noah Lakshamalla has been a devoted follower of Jesus Christ since 1994 and is husband to Maria and father to Joseph. A recent life-challenging health issue has drawn him into a deeper experience of the cross providing strength in weakness. He is a Chartered Engineer with a Master of Engineering in Manufacturing, an MBA, and additional qualifications in technology and finance. A passionate investor, Noah supports initiatives across affordable housing, health, defence, finance and technology. With a heart for connecting people and serving communities, he facilitates cross-cultural prayer gatherings across Perth, bringing Christians from diverse backgrounds together to pray and earnestly seek God.
