- Mike Webb (pastor)
-
Mike Webb Born Michael John Webb
21 September 1956
London, EnglandNationality 
Naturalised AustralianKnown for Appeared with brother Keith on Hey Hey its Saturday, Adelaide, in late 70s. Senior Pastor of Gateway Community Church Title Senior Pastor Religion Christian (Apostolic Church Australia) Spouse Chrys Webb Children Lauren, Marc and Luke Webb Parents John and Shirley Webb Mike Webb was born in London on 21 September 1956, and migrated to Australia at age 11 in 1967. Mike is most known for his appearances on Channel NWS-9 in Adelaide in the 1970s, and later finding the Christian faith, eventually becoming a pastor and the South Australian state leader for the Apostolic Church Australia. Mike also serves on the National Eldership of the movement.
Contents
Background
Mike Webb and his brother Keith found a passion for music at a young age which eventually led them to appearances and performances on local television channel NWS-9 in Adelaide.
The brothers initially received the "Encouragement Award" alongside Faye Nelson and Deborah Kirk on SAS 10's New Faces in 1971. This was a unique event as it was the first occasion that three acts had received the award in the same show.[1] They later went on to win the grand final of the series, and became guest presenters on numerous TV Telethons, a popular form of raising funds for charity in the 1970s. They also appeared regularly on NWS 9's Stars of Tomorrow and were popular guests on Ernie Sigley's Adelaide Tonight in the 70's. In particular, Mike and Keith became teen hosts on Adelaide's version of the popular television show Hey Hey It's Saturday in 1973.[2]
Unfortunately for the brothers, the show only lasted a single season before the format was changed, and within a few years the Melbourne show hosted by Daryl Sommers was syndicated throughout the Nine Network Australia Wide. Both Mike and Keith have appeared alongside the likes of Lisa Edwards who later went on to be one of John Farnham's backing singers. Interestingly, Mike & Keith performed as one of the support acts for Farnham during an Australia Day concert at Memorial Drive in 1973.
Their performances also included a number of "live" appearances on local radio stations.
Mike & Keith formed the band Web in the late 70's, performing at various Adelaide venues, eventually recording a number of their original songs at the ABC studios in Collinswood, showcasing their talent on ABC radio.[3]
Mike went on to play in numerous bands and cover acts in the Adelaide area including Stiletto, the Michael Hunter Band, No Moving Parts and The Works.
Marriage and children
Mike married wife Chrys (Christine Ann Webb) in 1976 and had their first child Lauren in 1979. Mike's love of music led him to name their first son, Marc, born in November 1980, after T-Rex front man Marc Bolan.[citation needed] They later had their second son Luke in 1985. During this time, Mike continued to play in bands and write music with no real return to the limelight.
Conversion to Christianity
Mike and brother Keith (who had since moved to Queensland) eventually teamed up again to begin work on a Rock Opera based on the prophecies of Nostradamus. It was during research for this project that Mike first became a Christian, initially worshiping at the Noarlunga Corps Salvation Army in Morphett Vale. It was at this point in time that Mike put down the guitar and pulled out of the project with brother Keith, focusing instead on his faith.
Mike, Chrys and the family moved to Berri, South Australia in 1994, where they started a small home fellowship group that eventually became Riverland Shekinah, and in a later name change, Riverland Central Christian Church, a member of the Apostolic Church Australia. It was here that Mike once again began singing and playing guitar as both Pastor and worship leader for the church and Mike was officially ordained as a minister of religion in the Apostolic Church. The church initially met in Berri but eventually moved to Glossop, South Australia.[4]
After planting Riverland Central, Mike Webb became the National Church Planting Director for the Apostolic Church, which included the beginning of churches across Australia, including a church plant in Gerard, an Australian Aboriginal mission in South Australia, and a church and orphanage in Kerala India.[5] Mike later passed on the role for "church planter" to become the state leader of the Apostolic Church for South Australia and the Northern Territory.[6]
In 2006, Mike and his wife Chrys returned to Adelaide to take over Gateway Community Church in Morphett Vale, but remained the Senior Pastors for Riverland Central until handing over the reins to Ps. David and Joella Crossfield in January 2007.[7]
External links
References
- ^ TV Guide (SA's Fully Independent TV, Radio and Theatre Review) - 4–10 December Edition 1971
- ^ NWS-9 (Channel Nine, Adelaide, Archives) http://www.nws9.com.au
- ^ ABC Radio South Australia Archives
- ^ Riverland Central Website - http://www.rccc.riverland.net.au
- ^ Impact Magazine
- ^ Apostolic Church Australia Website - http://www.apostolic.org.au
- ^ Gateway Community Church Website - http://www.gatewaycc.org.au
Categories:- English Pentecostals
- Australian Pentecostals
- Australian television presenters
- Living people
- 1956 births
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