Lead Pastors – Desalegn & Ruth Kitila
We are originally from Ethiopia, and lived in Nairobi Kenya for many years before we moved and flourished to our new home country of Australia in 2010.
God's faithful hand has moved us into the position of lead pastors at heartbeat Church Coffs Harbour. Our focus is to see people saved and set free of bondage that affects their life and walk with Jesus. We believe that through God’s love we all have an opportunity to achieve a promised destiny in the kingdom of God.
Both Ruth and I strongly believe YOU BELONG and is a principal of life at heartbeat Church.
ASSISTANT PASTORS – BEN & TANIA VAN LIESHOUT
Ben and Tania have been married since 1987 and together have four children and 16 grandchildren.
Their journey to the current position of assistant pastors began back in 1996 when they became followers of Jesus Christ.
As their belief and trust in God matured, doors of opportunity opened for them to minister in the anointing of God’s giftings. Ben’s prophetic gifting brings encouragement and edification to many people.
Both Ben and Tania love to see people set free into the liberty that is in Christ Jesus. They know that as we grow and abide in His WORD, we are enabled to live a victorious life and possess all the promises God has for us.
Ben and Tania very much desire to see believers become a living witness of Jesus and join the body of Christ to guide and raise the next generation.
Youth Pastors – Marko & Anna Kisose
Marko & Anna both grew up in church, serving God either singing or teaching children about the Lord.
They both left their home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2012 and made Australia their new home.
Marko has a passion for God's ministry and is currently involved in the church as the worship leader, youth leader and is a member of the Heartbeat Board of Directors. Anna is a devoted Christ follower and has always used her gift of singing, as a choir leader to minister to others through music.
Marko and Anna were married in September 2024 and now together, they embark on their new journey as husband and wife determined to embrace the fullness of the path that God has prepared for them as they answer their calling to Pastoral Ministry within the heartbeat Church family.
Associate Ministers - Pastors Lorelle & Wayne Magee
Wayne & Lorelle have been in Christian ministry for over forty years. The Magees released the heartbeat Church to the current Lead Ministers on July 1st 2025 and now avail themselves to assist the Kitilas within the local church and also continue to minister to the wider body of Christ as God leads and opens areas of ministry both here in Australia and overseas.
Wayne has served as the General Supervisor of the Church of the Foursquare Gospel Australia from 1998-2001. He was elected to the position of Australian Foursquare Church President in May 2004 and retired from that position in 2020. During his time as President, he also chaired the South Pacific Regional Council - Foursquare Churches and was one of the fifteen members of the Foursquare Missions International Global Council based in Los Angeles. Lorelle and Wayne have served in local church pastoral ministry positions at Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Sydney and Brisbane.
Lorelle served as Foursquare Australia Women’s President for eight years and produced annual denominational women’s conferences for a fourteen year period. She continues to minister both across Australia and oversees and assists in pastoral care within the local church.
Both Lorelle and Wayne have extensive ministry experience in deliverance of those in spiritual bondages, pastoral care, church administration and counselling to the broken-hearted. They have ministered extensively throughout Australia and in a number of overseas countries and both are sought after conference and seminar speakers. Each has a deep desire to see their homeland swept into the fullness of its destiny in God through restoration and revival.
Associate Pastors (Emeritus) – Brian & Kay Eyre
Brian & Kay, former Lead Ministers at Bethel Christian Centre Coffs Harbour (now called heartbeat Church), have been in ministry for many years and have had a vast experience in education, administration, and pastoral care.
Brian oversees the accounts departments for all areas of heartbeat Centre. Brian has a real heart for overseas missions and co-ordinates all giving and communication between the mother church in Coffs Harbour and the number of overseas mission outposts heartbeat Church actively supports in Malawi Africa, India, the South Pacific and other nations through Foursquare Missions Australia. He also co-ordinates mission giving domestically here in Australia for the local church.
Kay Eyre assists in the women’s and children’s ministry and is a real hands-on server wherever there is a need within the local church fellowship. Kay is still active in teaching at Christian Community primary and high schools across the Mid-North Coast of NSW and is constantly on call to cover areas of need.
CHURCH ELDER - Rick Madssen
Rick is a true servant in the church family. Apart from his role in eldership supporting the pastors in ministry he also co-ordinates the Heartbeat Men’s Ministry for the church, drives the church bus for Sunday Service pick-up and for the youth group Friday nights. Rick has an hands-on active role in the overall life of the heartbeat Church fellowship.
CHURCH ELDERS - Kado & Josephine Kiza
Kado Kiza and his wife, Josephine Mite-Kiza serve as Elders in heartbeat Church Coffs Harbour. Both hail from the DRC and with family members fled the civil war in their homeland to Malawi. They met in the Refugee Camp at Dzaleka, north of Lilongwe in that nation and with the assistance of the UN found a new home in Coffs Harbour. They assist in areas of ministry within the church family and conduct a home ‘connect’ group during the week.