As a twelve year old girl, I met Jesus and began a relationship with him that has been the foundation of my life. At the time, my family was living in Canada and very soon afterward, my father felt God was calling him to return to Australia and begin pastoring a church. He was given a very specific plan of action which he followed together with my uncle and so began the Christian Resource Centre (now Kingston City Church) in Melbourne. My brother and I were the only Youth Group members and my other siblings were the Sunday School! It was an amazing experience for me to watch my parents and aunt and uncle pioneer a church which grew very rapidly during those first years.

In 1979, Hans moved from Adelaide to become the Youth Pastor and very soon we were engaged and we married at the end of that year. I was 18 years old, the daughter, niece and wife of pastors so I went into ministry life with my eyes open! And I have never regretted it. I have been privileged to see so many lives changed as people have encountered the Lord for themselves. I have seen the broken, disenfranchised and hurting as well as those who seem to have their lives together being touched by God and suddenly overwhelmed by his love and grace. How great is his mercy to us all!

Hans and I have four sons, three in their mid to late 20’s and one who is 14. (He’s God’s plan to keep us young!) Our second and third sons are leaders in our church in different capacities and serve God with such a sense of call on their lives that I am sometimes amazed at their ministry capacity. Our eldest son moved to Melbourne recently and will soon settle into a church and continue to serve God there. Two of the boys are married and their wives also have their own individual ministries. God has blessed us as parents as it is not always a fait accomplis that pastors’ children will follow God themselves whole heartedly. In fact, it is often the opposite!

In 2000, I became a pastor myself and have had opportunity to minister at a number of conferences, camps and churches over the years as well as serve on the State Executive of our denomination. My delight is to see people released into the ministry that God has for them. Most people have a secret hope that they can often keep hidden for years until God puts his finger on it and releases something that gives them confidence and helps them put their trust in him to step out into all that he has for them. My dream is that there will be an ever increasing number of people who will be the hands and feet of Jesus and take the Gospel into their world and see their friends, family and workmates touched by him.