Ps Craig & Ps Melissa Maher are the Co-Senior Pastors of INChurch Melbourne, They have been married for 28 years and are blessed with six beautiful daughters - Rachel (26), Laura (24), Reanna (23), Bethany (21), Esther (18) & Heleana (16). The Maher Family is involved together continuing to pioneer and develop INChurch Melbourne. Every member of the family serves in different ways in the life of the Church.
Ps. Craig Maher (Dip.Adult.Ed, B.Theology, M.A. (Chaplaincy)) has been a christian minister & chaplain for over 32 years. Ps Craig is an Ordained Minister of the Australian Christian Churches. He previously served in the Uniting Church as a Senior Minister of three churches in Byron Bay, West Wyalong & Ryde. Then for 5 years he worked as the Palliative Care Chaplain & Bereavement Counsellor for Sydney West Area Health Service. Following that time he was the NSW Director, National Training Director and then National Director of Chaplaincy Australia - he wrote a Certificate IV in Christian Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care training over 1100 people across Australia & New Zealand involved in Aged Care, Prisons, Schools, Defence Force, Sports, Industry, Hospital & Community Chaplaincy. He led Chaplaincy Disaster Response Teams to Indonesia after the Bali Bombing & 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, 2009 Black Saturday Bush fires in Kinglake, Flowerdale & Marysville Victoria, Cyclones Larry & Yasi in North Queensland, Samoan Tsunami, Queensland & NSW floods and Christchurch Earthquake. Concluding in December 2016, Ps Craig was also the Head of Pastoral Care with HammondCare for 5 years - an Independent Christian Charity specialising in Palliative Care & Dementia. Ps Craig is a compassionate, caring, vision filled leader who seeks to inspire others through the example of living an "others" focussed life based on the life and character of Jesus Christ.
Ps Melissa Maher (RN, B.Nursing, Diploma in Christian Leadership, Diploma in Ministry) has been a Christian since she was 9 years old and seeks to be a fully committed follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Ps Melissa is an Ordained Minister of the Australian Christian Churches. Ps Melissa has supported Ps Craig in all of the ministries they have been involved with, being a vital co-worker and partner in ministry. She is a Registered Nurse and for over 10 years worked in Palliative Care supporting those dying and their families. As well as pastoring INChurch Melbourne, Ps Melissa works part-time as a Practice Nurse in a local GP Clinic. Ps Melissa is a gifted leader and seeks to encourage particularly women and girls to reach their full potential in Christ. She loves being a wife and mother believing that a dynamic home and family life is essential for ministry to be effective. She has heart for missions and has been involved in many short term missions teams to third world countries. Ps Melissa loves leading small groups and supporting our Connect Group Leaders. She is an effective prayer minister and gifted communicator.