The Team


Steve Jeffrey - National Director

Steve became a Christian at 23 and started to head towards fulltime Christian service about 6 months later. After 14 years of ministry in a local church he is now the Director of Youthsurge Australia; a youth ministry organisation that encourages and resources Bible focussed, Christ centred youth ministry in the local church. Not getting enough of all things youth ministry related with Youthsurge Steve is also Chairman of KYCK convention which sees over 4500 teenagers gather in Katoomba each year for a weekend of impacting bible teaching and fellowship.

Steve is really passionate that teenagers do not waste their life building up treasure on earth but to give up everything to live for Jesus, he therefore takes every opportunity to open the bible with teens and point them to Jesus and what it means to follow him. He is married to the wonderful Natalie and they have been very blessed with baby Isabelle. Whenever he can Steve loves to go shooting and watch movies with guns, bombs and that sort of stuff in them.


David Lawrence - Operations Manager

Originally from North Queensland, David moved to Sydney in his early teens and trained as an Electrical Engineer. He became a Christian gradually in his late teens and has been heavily involved in parish life every since. For the last 7 years he has been working at St Andrew's Cathedral School, first as Registrar and then as Director of Development. As a Youthsurge board member and long time worshipper at Norwest Anglican, David has seen the rapid and exciting growth of Youthsurge. With two two married children and one that is not home very often David, and his wife Janice, feel it is a good time to take a position that will use his experience and gifts to support gospel ministry. David's main role as National Operations Manager will be to build an operational structure that will support and grow the ministry into the future. In his spare time, David loves to run, play golf and sail.

Danny Mitchell - Programs

Danny told people he was a Christian when he was 7 (and proceeded to tell other people they should be too), but he didn't have a clue what that meant until he was 15. God made a big impact on Danny through youth ministry, and so he was stoked when he got the opportunity to be the youth minister at his home church in western Sydney. After 3 years in this role, he was all the more convinced that there is nothing more important for teenagers than to know Jesus and love him together with his people. Hence, there can be nothing more important for youth groups than to strive towards this with everything they've got!

In his spare time from being the Youthsurge Slave-Doggy, Danny is studying at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. He lives in a big house with 23 other guys and a ridiculously massive pile of dirty dishes. He loves the guys, but hates the dishes. Danny also loves funky beats, riding mountain bikes (timidly), baseball and reading interesting books really slowly. He hopes to one day be as lethal as Steve.

Kate Fitzpatrick - Administration

Kate's Christian growth began as she grew up under a bible based youth ministry at her local church. She has experienced first hand the changes that commited and caring leaders, strong bible teaching & christian encouragement can bring to a teenagers life. Kate loves being a part of the Youthsurge team, and seeing how the ministry impacts youth groups all over Australia!Kate is married to Greg and they are expecting their first child at the end of 2008.Kate will be on maternity leave from mid-December 2008 - June 2009. Any admin enquiries can still be made to admin@youthsurge.com.au

Natalie Jeffrey - Publishing


Natalie grew up on a farm just outside of Grafton in northern NSW and became a Christian reading a New Testament her Scripture Teacher gave her. She grew as a Christian during her last two years at school in Armidale before moving to Sydney for university.  Natalie worked as a Primary Teacher for 5 years before jumping ship to help Steve with the growing demands of Youthsurge.    Natalie's main role at Youthsurge is the publishing of resources.  She also loves to put her teacher training into practice with the training of youth leaders.   Natalie is married to Steve and mum to Isabelle. When she gets a chance she really enjoys catching up with people over coffee (preferrably with a water view) and sewing yet another quilt!

Joe & Sarah Smith - Resource Development


Joe and Sarah are currently studying at Sydney Missionary & Bible College. They were married in 2008 after meeting at their work where Joe worked as a Journalist and Sarah, a Graphic Designer.

In his spare time, Joe loves reading Christian books and watching films. Occasionally he'll even dust off his comic collection in the hope that Sarah will someday learn to appreciate them. Joe joins us in 2009, using his writing and editing skills, to help grow the resource arm of Youthsurge.

Sarah has been designing for Youthsurge for many years now and is hoping to continue producing attractive, bible-focussed resources that will get into the hands of many young people all around Australia (and even beyond). She is currently leading a group of grade 12 girls at her local church and is loving seeing them grow in their love for Christ.