About

Sharon and her husband, Jim, began to consider making Australia 

their home when their first grandchild was born in Australia. 

With many roots deeply set in Alaska, USA, the whole family is now happily settled in Queensland. Jim and Sharon’s kids, spouses, and 

eight grandchildren live within 50 minutes of each other – 

quite stunning for a family who never expected to leave Alaska.

Sharon has worn many hats over the years – teacher, ministry director, pastor, mentor... in various church and para-church ministries in Alaska and Colorado, both as a volunteer and as part of the 

pastoral team. She has also been a primary school teacher, a music teacher, an English as a Second Language teacher, and a co-worker with Jim in corporate offices for a season.

When they became empty-nesters, Jim and Sharon put their 

household in storage as Sharon followed Jim in his career opportunities with the company for which he worked for more 

than 36 years. That adventure took them to Nigeria, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia. Sharon is forever grateful for that decade full of change,

which reshaped her thinking about God and this humanity-packed planet, deepening her commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ

and deepening her love of God. Jim and Sharon are a part of the team and family at Hillsong Church Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.