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Our Story

At The Jethro Project we partner with leaders like you and churches like yours to influence, catalyse & accelerate leadership growth and church expansion at every level.

Our mission is simple, thriving leaders & expansive churches.
We do this through our purpose-built, principle-driven, personalised coaching, coaching communities, content and training. 

ps darren te jethro project

Ps Darren and Bronnie Bonnell

In 2005, Darren and Bronnie Bonnell began leading a small church. What followed was a revitalization, enlarging and expansion story of a growing local church and then a decade of multiplying from 1 to 8 church locations. During the same decade of the 1 to 8 church expansion, Darren also spearheaded church planting training and coaching that influenced more than 100 new church plants.

Today, Darren leads The Jethro Project team serving leaders and churches of every size and style, from across the denominations and the nation.  City based, suburban, regional, and rural churches. We work with some of Australia’s most well-known churches, innovative church plants and everything in between.

In 2025 we are collaborating with Partners in Ministry to extend our reach to support even more leaders, churches and denominations.

That’s our story. Our desire is to be for you, what Jethro was for Moses in that God appointed moment – a skilled and seasoned guide, who helps position you and your church for the next level of healthy expansion.

Our Coaches

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Artie Shephard

Bron Bonnell

David Storer

Josh Brett

Matt Tickner

Mike Matumaini

Shannon Riley
Artie Shephard

Artie’s experience spans 30 years of fruitful pastoral leadership in youth ministry, community services, church planting, campuses, Senior Pastoring, church transitions, and Bible Colleges.

All of this has formed a passion for helping pastors and their churches to thrive, with special interests in church regeneration, discipleship pathways, leadership pipelines, community engagement, and Spirit-empowered preaching.

Now a full-time Chaplain with the Queensland Police Service, Artie is privileged to invest into churches and their leaders everywhere.

As well as ministry studies, Artie holds a Master of Leadership and is currently doing post-graduate studies in Positive Psychology, but his greatest achievements are being married to Alana for 27 years, having 3 young adult children who are all serving Jesus and winning in life!

Bron Bonnell

Bronnie Bonnell is the Senior Pastor of The Chapel Collective, a multisite church in NSW. Bron has been developing leaders and training church planters across Australia for 10 years. Bron is known for her passion, humour and teaching. She loves the local church and wants to see community-changing expressions of the kingdom across the nation. Bron is also a church planter herself having planted 2 churches on the ground and sent multiple other planters.

David Storer

David is a seasoned pastor, international speaker, and mentor with a deep calling to disciple and develop leaders. Over the years, he has personally mentored countless individuals, many of whom now pastor significant churches across Australia and around the world. His commitment to raising healthy, Spirit-led leaders forms the heartbeat of the Jethro Project.

Covering three core areas—leadership development, personal transformation, and kingdom identity—David’s ministry is both practical and prophetic. He travels regularly to minister at churches and conferences globally, passionately encouraging believers to live in the power and freedom of the finished work of the Cross.

David carries a deep passion for personal healing and wholeness through Christ, believing that the most effective leaders are those who are healed, whole, and grounded in their true identity. His book, Meditation on Mysteries, is a powerful resource offering practical keys to living a Spirit-led life.

With decades of ministry experience, David continues to champion leaders and churches into greater health, freedom, and fruitfulness for the glory of God.

Josh Brett

Josh Brett is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in pastoral ministry, leadership development, and mentoring. He has served in multiple ministry capacities, including six years as the South Australian State President for the Australian Christian Churches (ACC).

Josh is a credentialed pastor with the International Network of Churches (INC) and is currently studying for a Graduate Certificate in Professional Supervision with the Australian College of Ministries.

He has a proven track record in developing leaders within the church, nurturing a vibrant community of disciples, and fostering a culture of service, compassion, and outreach. His heart for mentoring has touched many lives, equipping emerging leaders to fulfill their calling and strengthen the body of Christ.

Matt Tickner

Matt is a seasoned pastor, leader, and church builder with over thirty years of experience on staff at Australia’s largest church. He is passionate about seeing people come alive to their purpose and potential, and now brings his depth of experience to his work with the Jethro Project—supporting churches and leaders in areas of culture, team development, and navigating change. Matt has planted congregations, journeyed churches through transition, and pastored a location that grew from a small, fledgling congregation into a thriving multi-service community. He has also overseen multiple campuses across a region, always with a strong relational and people-focused approach to leadership.

Having served on denominational boards, travelled and spoken internationally, and supported leaders across a wide range of church contexts, Matt offers a unique perspective on the leadership development journey. With a background primarily in Pentecostal settings, he now works across the broader ministry spectrum, bringing insight and adaptability to diverse styles and settings. He is currently completing a Master’s in Leadership and lives in Sydney with his wife Miriam and their five children.

Mike Matumaini

Mike and Christelle Matumaini are pastors, musicians, and podcasters. Mike is the Executive Pastor at The Chapel Collective, and Christelle is the Location Pastor for The Chapel Gunnedah. They also serve as Regional Leaders for the Australian Christian Churches in New England and Northwest NSW.

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mike is passionate about helping people discover their identity and purpose in Christ. Since moving to Australia in 2011, he has served in various pastoral roles and launched The Chapel Gunnedah in 2016. Mike has overseen the establishment of six other Chapel churches and holds a Master of Leadership from Alphacrucis University College.

In 2020, Mike and Christelle started a podcast and YouTube channel focused on relationships. They also founded Become Family Incorporated in 2022 to support children and women affected by war and violence in Africa. Married since 2004, they have three children.

SHANNON RILEY

Shannon has a dynamic pastoral and leadership gift matched with a passion for the local Church, and loves seeing people released into all Christ has for them. He is apostolic in nature, pioneering new pathways and initiatives.  He enjoys serving our Region across various spheres of influence. Shannon has a knack for finding the gold in people and releasing them to reach their full potential.