Our Speakers
meet our spark 2025 speaker
Preston Perry is one of our speakers for Spark 2025!
Preston Perry
Poet. Storyteller. Apologist. Truth-seeker.
Preston Perry has a gift for making deep theology actually make sense. Whether through spoken word, teaching, or real talk on his YouTube channel “Apologetics with Preston Perry,” he’s all about helping people understand and defend their faith with both truth and love.
You might have also heard him on the “With the Perrys” podcast, where he and his wife, Jackie, keep it raw and real about faith, culture, and relationships. He’s also worked with The Gospel Coalition, Poets in Autumn, and Legacy Disciple.
Last year, he published a hope-filled apologetics and evangelism book —”How to Tell the Truth: The Story of How God Saved Me to Win Hearts, Not Just Arguments.” In it, he shares how to engage others with truth, dignity, and respect.
When he’s not breaking down tough questions, he’s repping Bold Apparel and doing life in Atlanta with Jackie and their four amazing kids.
More speakers to be announced soon!
Special GuestOur Speakers
Meet our Spark 2026 Speakers
Arnaldo Santiago, Erica Mandi Manga and Kirk Patston are our speakers at Spark this year.
Arnaldo Santiago Jr.
Lead Pastor, Anchor South West
A native of Brooklyn, NY, Arnaldo has made his home in Sydney for the past 20 years. He’s married to Katherine and they have four children. He’s a church planter and the lead pastor of Anchor South West. He has a passion for the glory of Christ and to see the church in our age revived.
Erica Mandi Manga
Young Adults Pastor, St Paul’s Anglican Church — Castle Hill
Erica has been a young adults pastor for nearly 20 years. She loves helping young adults get excited about Jesus and God’s Word and seeing their lives changed as a result.
She is a founding member of the Young Adults Ministers Network and is a writer and presenter of the Ripple Effect Apologetics course.
She lives with her husband, Obase, in the Hills, but the inner city will always have her heart.
In her short talk, Meaning-Filled Mission, Erica will share practical wisdom to fuel missional living, drawn from her years of ministry among young adults. She’ll encourage us to live out the meaning we find in Christ in a way that calls others to know Him too.
Kirk Patston
Director of the Centre for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry, SMBC
Kirk is Director of the SMBC Centre for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry and has lectured at SMBC since 2000. With a background in speech pathology and Presbyterian ministry, he brings a wealth of experience to teaching and equipping others for ministry.
Kirk and his wife, Lisa, share a love for the connection between art and faith and are part of Springwood Presbyterian Churches. They have two adult sons and are founders of Our Place Christian Communities, a ministry supporting accommodation and discipleship of adults with intellectual impairment.
Special Guest
Meet our Spark 2026 Special Guests
Jackie Hill Perry is our special guest for Spark 2025!
Jackie Hill Perry
Author. Poet. Bible Teacher. Hip-Hop Artist.
Jackie Hill Perry is all about keeping it real when it comes to faith. Since becoming a Christian, she’s been using her voice—through spoken word, music, and teaching, to share the gospel as authentically as possible.
She’s the author of “Gay Girl, Good God,” where she tells her story of transformation, “Holier Than Thou,” which unpacks why God’s holiness makes Him the most trustworthy, and the Jude Bible study, helping believers stand firm in today’s culture.
When she’s not writing, teaching, or creating music, she’s doing life with her husband, Preston, and being a mum to their four kids—Eden, Autumn, Sage, and August.