Hangout with Lauren ...
- Tell us a little about yourself
I grew up in Wahroonga (Sydney) with my 3 brothers and a sister and our beloved dog Sweetie (he is a boy - much to everyone's surprise!) He is also the best looking dog out there, he is a Labradoodle. He is so good looking that everyone stops us on the street to ask what kind of dog he is...! I recently got married to the wonderful Grant David and I am loving the challenges and new things about married life! I love a good Saturday Brunch but what makes it even better is if it’s raining. Last year I finished my Bachelor of Theology at Moore College which was a relief - after studying Greek for 3 years! I currently work for Crusaders as the Bookings Coordinator for Cru Camps which I love.
I go through phases of different hobbies last year it was knitting, this year it has been colouring in, once it was running (for a short period of 3 weeks) - who knows what will be next! I also cannot sit still for a long time! Something you must know about me is I constantly have new plans and visions for different ministries which often most of my friends end up getting swept up in. Sometimes they work; sometimes they don't.
I attend St James Anglican Church in Turramurra and get the honour of serving the youth of Elevate each week. On Friday nights I get the privilege of leading our Support Team - a team of twelve leaders whose role on a Friday night is to serve our 150 youth in any way possible. Leading this team of servants is one of the greatest joys I have ever had - they wash people's feet every week.
I guess in short I just love living for Jesus. It sounds so cliché but I honestly cannot think of anything better than to spend my days serving my Lord and my King.
- What's your favourite bible passage & why?
hmm... it changes at the moment I think it is Ephesians 6:18. This is a verse where Paul exhorts the Church of Ephesus to pray in the Spirit in all occasions. I love this as often I am so tempted to pray just in times of hardship but Paul says pray in seasons of joy, hardship, sorrows and mundane moments of life. Pray always! Not only this but he exhorts us to be alert and keep praying for the Church. Often I forget to pray for God's people because I am so focused on those who aren't saved yet! Yet we are told to pray for the Church - the Church needs our prayers!
- How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?
With great struggle! There are so many things in this world that can and do distract me! Yet there are a few things that I find particularly helpful. Firstly by spending time in God's word regularly - his word is food for our souls. Secondly by speaking to him with my prayers and petitions and thirdly by being in community with people whether that is through Church or through other means such as surrounding myself with Christian friends who love Jesus.
- What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know?
That is something I have been thinking about a lot at the moment. If I could tell our youth girls one thing it would be something Bobbie Houston says. Which is that there is a God in heaven who loves them and believes in them. In a world full of isolation, sexual immorality, gossiping, lying, slander, drunkenness, murder, divorce and so much more; young girls (heck even older girls!) need to know that there is a God who loves them and believes in them. I could go on a rant about this but I will save it for a later date!
- What's one thing that you love about your local church?
Oh man that is a really hard one! I love our church a lot. It has its up's and down's but I think the thing that I love the most are the people. The people at St James are passionate about seeing the North Shore saved, they are compassionate, they love Jesus, they are people who pour themselves out and are willing to put everything on the line for the sake of the gospel.
- What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard?
That God is still sovereign and he is so faithful. I think in the darkness of life that is often all you have to hold on too. God will keep his promises as we see throughout the Old Testament and that Jesus will come back again and take us home to heaven.
- What are you passionate about?
Way too much! Haha! As my husband says I am extremely passionate about just about everything! What am I passionate about at the moment? I am passionate to see the youth of the North Shore won for Christ. I am passionate about girls knowing that they are Daughters of a God who loves them dearly and I am passionate about helping people realise their giftedness so that they might flourish and better serve the Church. I am also super passionate about prayer at the moment. I love what Charles Spurgeon says "Prayer moves the arm; that moves the world" and also what Corrie Ten Boon who was a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews during WW2. She says "A man is most powerful when he is on his knees praying." I love this! Women are most powerful and most effective when we are on our knees praying! Our prayers make a difference and when we feel helpless in situations God has given us this amazing gift of intercession for the people of this earth! Love it!
- What do you enjoy doing when you rest?
I love movies, reading, sleeping, eating and holidaying! I have also just started really enjoying cooking as well! I pretty much enjoy anything that requires me not to have to move off my bed!!
