Canberra Baptist Church

Ms Merilyn Carey

Merilyn was appointed a minister of the church in July 2008. She has been a member of the church since 1970 and had a career in the Public Service before joining the ministry team as a Pastoral Assistant in 1996. Since then she has had a number of roles with a major emphasis of her work in the area of pastoral care of the elderly. Her responsibilities now include pastoral care, coordination of worship and Christian formation.

Rev. Moriah Hurst

Moriah joined the team at Canberra Baptist Church for the second time in August 2008. She worked for the church as its youth worker from January 2004-June 2005 and has returned to join the pastoral team as one of its ministers, with primary responsibilities for youth and young adults (13-25 years old). Moriah holds a Masters of Divinity with a focus in Youth Ministry from the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Indiana, USA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (in English, Bible & Religion, Bio, and Women’s Studies) from Goshen College, Indiana, USA. She has experience in Christian camping, youth programming and Christian intentional community.

Moriah is also working for Irene’s Place: a house of discipleship and peace, as their community coordinator.

Rev. Belinda Groves

As one of the ministers, Belinda works alongside families and children as they encounter the Jesus who comes “that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

Belinda’s background includes six years of ministry at Seaforth Baptist Church and three years at Northside Baptist Church, both in Sydney, and some pastoral experience at Yokohama Union Church, Japan. She has worked with families and children for over twenty years. Her education background includes a BA (Hons), Dip. Ed. and a BTh (Hons), Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry from Morling College, Sydney.

Married to Aron Downey, Belinda and Aron have three children; Miriam, Grace and Zachary, and a dog named Tampa.