our team
working together to accomplish our vision.
Tō tātou kaitiaki
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Alongside our senior pastors, Echo Church is led by a leadership team and a board of trustees. The leadership team provides spiritual oversight and the board provides governance to the church. Our church also has a small paid staff who help carry out the work and ministry of the church.
Sam Barr
Sam is the Senior Pastor, serves on the Leadership Team and is also the Chair of the Echo Vision Trust Board. Sam is married to Samantha and together they have two beautiful daughters named Ivy and Camden. Whakatāne has always been home for him and he has lived here most of his life apart from a few stints abroad in different areas of New Zealand. Sam has commerce and teaching qualifications and prior to being a pastor he worked as a secondary school teacher. He has served in various areas during his time at Echo including on the prayer team, hospitality team, platform team and as a small group leader. In his spare time, Sam loves hanging out with his friends and family and enjoying the outdoors.
Samantha Barr
Samantha is the Senior Pastor and serves on the Leadership Team. Samantha is from Whakatāne and has lived there most of her life. She is married to Sam and has two precious daughters named Ivy and Camden. Samantha has qualifications in dance studies and neuro-linguistic programming and prior to joining the staff at Echo she ran a business where she helped people with debilitating physical and mental health conditions find wellness. Samantha has served in a variety of different roles during her time at Echo including on the hospitality team, platform team, next generation team and as a small group leader. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys having coffee with friends, exercising and spending time with her family.
Kieran Watkins
Kieran is the Youth Pastor and serves on the Leadership Team. Kieran is the middle child of Lloyd and Margaret. He has a sister Anna, and a brother Gareth who is married to Karmen.
He has been in Whakatāne since 2018 after moving from his family's farm in Tīrau, to work at Media Bay of Plenty as a production engineer. Kieran pastors Echo's Youth and Ignite groups, and he unexpectedly found himself studying theology for three years through Laidlaw College, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 2022. Kieran enjoys taking photos, talking, and spending time with his family and friends.
Kelly Taylor
Kelly serves on the Leadership Team and co-leads the Worship Team. Kelly was raised in Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne. She and her husband Michael have an amazing daughter named Paetyn. From a young age Kelly served in worship teams before heading with Michael to Sydney to further their studies and expertise, receiving an advanced diploma in Christian ministry, vocals and worship leading. In 2009 they were asked to lead a church worship team in London, where they also later became the assistant leaders. After spending 11 years in London they returned to Whakatāne and have been a part of Echo Church since 2021. Kelly has a passion to serve and encourage the church in worship. She enjoys her job as a vocal coach and loves spending time with her family and a good giggle.
Michael Taylor
Michael serves on the Leadership Team and co-leads the Worship Team. Originally from Whakatāne, Michael headed to Sydney with his wife Kelly to further their studies and expertise, receiving an advanced diploma in Christian ministry, vocals and worship leading. In 2009 they were asked to lead a church worship team in London, where they also later became the assistant leaders. After spending 11 years in London they returned to Whakatāne with their daughter Paetyn and have been a part of Echo Church since 2021. Michael works as a project manager for a Christian charity providing resources for churches. He carries a passion to serve and encourage the church in worship.
Lisa Preston
Lisa is the Church Administrator and serves as the Treasurer on the Echo Vision Trust Board. Lisa moved to Whakatāne from the USA in 2008 after marrying her husband Matthew. She has been in the Echo Church family since 2015 and has served in various roles. She is currently the Info Desk Team Leader, a small group leader, a Sunday gathering MC, and is on the Welcome and Prayer Teams. With her passion for helping others find grace and redemption in Christ, she enjoys leading Freedom small groups and conferences. Lisa and Matthew have 7 adult children and 7 grandchildren between them, and love traveling to the 4 countries where they live. Lisa has had a wide variety of careers, including high school teacher, pastor, manager, and several administrative and technology roles. Besides being on the church staff, she also has other part-time jobs that combine her tech skills with her Masters in Education/TESOL. Lisa enjoys exploring New Zealand, writing, reading, sewing and painting.
John Thomson
John Thomson serves as the Health & Safety/Risk Chairman on the Echo Vision Trust Board. John has been attending Echo Church since 2018 and has served in various capacities including small group leader, and on the Set-up and Prayer Teams. John is a father to three adult sons: Jordan lives in Auckland, is married to Andrea and has a two year old son Walter; Dylan lives in Tauranga and Jesse lives in Whakatāne. John’s work background mainly revolves around the horticultural and agricultural industries. Currently he drives a milk tanker for Fonterra, but has worked in machinery sales, the produce industry and ran his own horticultural contracting business serving the kiwi fruit industry for twenty years. He enjoys catching up with friends and family and making the most of the region's great walking tracks and beaches.
Roak Crew
Roak Crew serves on the Echo Vision Trust Board. Roak arrived in New Zealand from South Africa in October 2019 when his wife Karin took up a six-month locum position as a radiographer at Whakatāne Hospital. They subsequently made Whakatāne their permanent home and have been joined by their son Nathan, their daughter Courtney and her husband Brendon. Roak has a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and has held various Executive Management roles in South Africa, including the Managing Director of a government owned Rural Development Company. He is a local small business owner and currently serves on Echo’s Welcome Team and hosts a men’s small group.