If you’ve been keeping up with us here at Liberty Church you may have heard the name Sebastian Buffa being used quite often. So, who is Sebastian? And what is his role at Liberty Church? I sat down with Sebastian last Thursday at NYC’s Food Parc to get the low-down on the journey that led him to our church in the concrete jungle.
Let’s start with some of the basics: Where are you from? When and how did you realize you wanted to be in church-based ministry full-time?
Well, I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia where I just recently moved from.
I’ve been in different positions of ministry for 12 years, but growing up I actually wanted to be a rockstar! When I was 19 and working a management job I realized there was a real lack of leadership when it came to the local church, and in my early twenties I had the privilege of being part of a movement called Youth Alive.
Through Youth Alive I had the opportunity to lead worship for thousands in huge stadium events, tour Europe and be mentored by amazing people like Christine Caine, Paul Andrew and Phil Dooley. I eventually reached a point where I felt like I should choose between music or developing myself further in the area of leadership. I really felt that what the church needed more of was good leadership, so that’s the direction I took and as a result I worked in various ministry roles and was the youth director for 9 years in a great movement called called Foursquare in Australia.
Sebastian breaks for a minute to start digging in to the massive cheeseburger and fries he ordered, and notes that his fiance probably won’t be happy upon finding out that piece of information. Sorry, Aimee!
So what led up to you getting involved in Liberty?
Well I met Paul through Youth Alive. He visited our youth ministry once to announce an event. We couldn’t even go to the event, which I think is hilarious, but Paul asked if I’d like to go to lunch that week and the rest is history. Paul became a really good friend who has been there through some amazingly difficult circumstances in my life.
In 2007 I planted a church reaching young adults in Sydney, and in November of 2009 I felt God ask me move to America. I didn’t really know why - there wasn’t a promise of anything specific. So late 2009 I started a business, and the original intent was to move to New York, move the business here as well, help Paul and Andi in whatever way I could, and go from there! I know it wasn’t much of a plan, but it was all I had. Over the last two years I’ve been running my business - a training and consultancy firm. At the beginning of this year I was still in the process of doing all of that, and then the question came up whether I would consider helping spearhead the launch of a second community as a pastor on the team.
So you just moved to the U.S. from Australia. What’s your favorite part about the States so far?
Well I love Hawaii because they have lots of water - I go there a few times every year. I really do love New York, but I’m not a true New Yorker yet because I still love Times Square.
I interrupt to confess that I secretly still love Times Square too. We agree that we don’t want to become jaded New Yorkers who don’t appreciate what a cool attraction it really is!
I love the food - especially the fact that you can get any cuisine out there. I also love how busy it is, the people, and this city itself.
Least favorite?
I hate the cold so I’m terrified of winter.
(I made sure to inform him that he was in for a rude awakening.)
What has been the most rewarding experience for you at Liberty so far?
I believe God put me on planet is to inspire people, and I think that Liberty Church is incredibly inspiring. To see people walk into church lost, no fire in there eyes, shoulders slumped, sometimes going through a hard time…and then watch as they leave completely different with a sense of purpose and expectation that God can do something incredible with their life - it’s an amazing thing to witness.
Does a particular moment stand out to you?
Earlier this year when I came and spoke about having “An Unstoppable Life” I had a really meaningful conversation with someone after the service. It was amazing to be able to talk to someone who was going through something similar to what I had been through. I was able to see someone go from no hope and feeling like it was never going to end to seeing them all of the sudden have the belief that God was doing something good and that the situation could become something really beautiful in their life.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Well, I’ve already been through a lot of ups and downs in my lifetime. After walking through things like divorce, illness and exhaustive medical treatment etc…I found myself at the age of 30 resetting my whole life. So in the process of reinventing and recreating life as I knew it, one thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to dedicate my life to inspiring others. There is nothing more inspiring than what Jesus went through and did for us which is why I am so incredibly passionate about ‘The Church’ and the message it has for our incredibly beautiful, yet lost and broken world and that is where you will find me!
