Aubrey Sequeira - Senior Pastor
Aubrey and his wife Nishika were born and raised in Chennai, India. Aubrey was a rock musician before the Lord saved him. After completing his Bachelor's in engineering, Aubrey worked in the IT industry for several years while engaging in bi-vocational ministry and church-planting. In 2010, following the Lord's call to vocational ministry, Aubrey enrolled at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where he completed an M.Div and a Ph.D. in Biblical Theology while serving a local church in various capacities. Aubrey and Nishika love spending time with people, understanding new cultures and trying new ethnic foods. They have been blessed with three delightful little girls.
Will Barkley - Associate Pastor
Since 2015, Will has served in cross-cultural church planting and pastoring in Indonesia and the USA. Before his arrival to Abu Dhabi, will served as the associate pastor for outreach and theological education at Indian Trail Church in Spokane, WA. While at ITC, he was directly involved with pastoral residency and internship programs focused on training pastors to serve throughout the Pacific Northwest Region. Will holds a Master of Divinity degree from Bethlehem College & Seminary and currently serves as a board member of Gulf Theological Seminary.
Christian Lwanda - Associate Pastor
Christian was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. The Lord saved him as a teenager, and he has been most at home in or around the church ever since. He has a BA in Psychology and is currently pursuing an M.Div in Biblical & Theological Studies. Christian has worked as a pastor in several churches in Kenya and in South Africa. After doing his pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington DC (USA), he continued serving his church in Nairobi before coming to Abu Dhabi. Christian is married to Sheila, and together the Lord has blessed them with 2 wonderful boys. He enjoys music, movies, rugby, interacting with people from different cultures, and pranking his friends and workmates.
Shyam Pasula - Telugu Church Planter
Shyam is from Telangana, India. He came to faith at the age of 12 and God has given him a desire to reach out and share the gospel to people. He has been involved in overseeing an orphanage as well as training children, youth, and pastors for four years. In 2019, he completed his Masters in Pastoral Training at a seminary in India. He then came to Abu Dhabi to join ECC’s Global Pastoral Apprenticeship Program and completed it in 2020. Shyam is currently working to plant a Telugu-speaking church in Abu Dhabi. He desires to plant a Bible-based church and make disciples of Jesus among Telugu-speakers in Abu Dhabi. He enjoys playing cricket and reading books.
J.P. Stokes - Interim Pastoral Assistant
J.P. and his wife Megan are from the U.S. and are parents to three boys. J.P. studied History and Linguistics at University before attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for his M.Div where they met Aubrey and Nishika. While time at SBTS was formative and helpful, the most helpful part of their time in Louisville was membership at Immanuel Baptist Church which modeled for them meaningful church membership and instilled in them an abiding love for the local church. For the last several years they have been working in South Asia where J.P. has been involved in pastoral ministry, theological education, and evangelism. Prior to moving overseas, they were engaged in a variety of ministries in the U.S., particularly with internationals there. They love traveling together, meeting people, trying new foods, and reading.
Anwar Sawaya - Interim Pastoral Assistant
Anwar was born in a small town in the mountains of Lebanon to a Roman Catholic family. In 1990, he married his wife Julene. Anwar was officially ordained as a minister of the gospel in 1994. In 1996, Anwar & Julene had a strong leading from the Lord to move to the U.A.E., where Anwar’s parents were residing. Upon arrival to the UAE, Anwar & Julene immediately started attending and serving at ECC. Throughout the years, Anwar served at ECC as a bible study leader, member of the church board, director of Men’s Ministry, and as an elder. Anwar & Julene have three children, Jared, Eric, and Jessica.
Ben Zamora - Director of Family Ministries
Ben grew up in California in the U.S.A. At the age of 18, the Lord gave him a heart for missions and serving the local church overseas. He received a BA in Church Leadership & World Missions. Over the years, he has served in various capacities within the local church, but especially in youth ministries and he loves working with students & parents. After moving to Colorado, Ben met Camryn and they married in 2006. They have 4 wonderful children. Ben is an extrovert and a foodie. He loves meeting people, being adventurous, camping, hunting, and anything outdoors, but more than anything, he loves spending time with his family.
Yolleth Trujillo - Children's Ministry Coordinator
Yolleth was born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia. She married Devon in 2009 and has two girls: Jovianne 10 and Julianne 5. She came to faith in her teenage years. After finishing her Engineering degree she moved to Aruba. Over there she started to get involved in Missions Ministry, also being active on numerous Vacation Bible School for kids at her home church. She and her family have been living in Abu Dhabi since 2013 and she has been serving in Awana since 2014. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and snorkeling.
Atsede Seyoum Shiferaw - Church Administrator
Atsede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Married to Wondwossen Kassa since 2000, the Lord has blessed her with three wonderful children: Robel 20, Sarah 19, and Yoseph 9. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and her entire career has been working in the Airline Industry. She moved to Abu Dhabi in 2011 and recently joined ECC for her new adventure as the Church Administrator. She enjoys cooking for her family, friends, and anybody who enjoys eating!
Innah Teodoro - Communications Coordinator
Innah was born and raised in the Philippines but has spent the majority of her teen years living in Abu Dhabi. In 2018, she graduated from Abu Dhabi University with a degree in Mass Communication specializing in Broadcast Journalism. Innah became a member of ECC in 2017 and has since been serving in the Youth Ministry. She enjoys going to the beach, watching movies, and taking photos.
Nigussie Yadete - Pastoral Apprentice
Nigussie became a believer in Ethiopia, where he grew up. He lived in the U.K. for several years while pursuing his MA and Ph.D. studies in language education. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years as a teacher and a director of curriculum and quality assurance. Before coming to the UAE, Nigussie served on an eldership team and on a Bible college board. He also taught communication and leadership courses at a seminary in Ethiopia. Currently, he is pursuing MA in Theological Studies, while serving as a lay pastor and Amharic ministry leader. Nigussie and his wife, Genet Tesafye, have 3 God-loving children. Nigussie enjoys coffee, especially Ethiopian coffee.
Jobin John Mathew - Pastoral Apprentice
Jobin is an Indian, born and raised in Ajman, UAE. Responding to the call from the Lord at the age of 18, he got involved with the CEF ministries. Having realized the importance of Theological training, he completed his Bachelors in Theology in 2008 and his Masters in Biblical Studies in 2010 and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in ministry. He married Ruby in 2013, and as a family, they have been serving a local church in Bangalore in various capacities. They have been blessed with a baby boy, Judah, in 2020. Jobin loves reading and as a couple, they love spending time with people. Jobin and Ruby are preparing themselves for a church plant back in India.