a self-professed atheist and didn't think too highly of Christians. While hitchhiking around Australia, Rob had a near-death experience in a truck as it collided with another truck. Both the driver and Rob survived the ordeal, but the occupants in the other truck, unfortunately, didn't. After leaving the hospital, Rob was invited to stay with the truck driver’s family. They were devout Christians and decided to challenge his perception that God was nonexistent. Shortly after Rob attended their church and committed his life to Jesus. Rob became a popular professional breakfast announcer on 6GE in Geraldton, Western Australia. In 1984, Rob was called to pastoral ministry and attended Commonwealth Bible College in Katoomba, NSW, where he trained to become an ordained pastor. In 1988, Rob moved to Melbourne to become an Assistant Pastor at Lighthouse Church in Keysborough serving as Minister of Christian Education. Despite his call to Christian ministry, Rob continued to work in radio and worked at 3MP for 15 years and hosted 3MP's Rob Buckingham and Friends program each Sunday from 1993 to 1999. He interviewed guests such as Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie as well as many well-known community figures. In 1992, Rob started a church in Cheltenham which he commenced with a small group of people. The church has grown to 2,000 in 2013. In 1994 Rob Buckingham married Christie McClay and together they have led Bayside Church. In December 2002 Rob began working with Melbourne's new Christian radio station, Light FM, where he worked as Music Director for many years. References Pentecostal churches in Melbourne Evangelical megachurches in Australia Christian organizations established in 1992 Buildings and structures in the City of Bayside