5 minutes with Carolyn ...

- Tell us a little about you I live in Sydney or on Qantas. Fuzz (my best friend who I am married to and is my ministry and business partner) and I included in our wedding vows that we wanted God to use our home as a place of hospitality so we have always had people live with us. I am the co-director of STOP THE TRAFFIK www.stopthetraffik.com.au with Fuzz. We are seeking to end human trafficking and modern slavery in our life time. We also run Spirited Consulting and over the last 16 years have worked with over 25 denominations in over 35 countries. - What's your favourite bible passage & why? Mark 8:34 - I particularly like the Message version "Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he (Jesus) said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?” That says it all really! It is my life motto. - How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? I find Jesus in the work I do with the poor and with those who are oppressed. I think Jesus had a preference being with these people and their relationships with God and world view is something which encourages me. God’s heart breaks for these people and ours should too. - What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know? It isn’t about you, so get over yourself. - What's one thing that you love about your local church? I travel a lot so I have several - mostly what I love is the diversity of the people. On a Christmas Eve in one of them I was serving communion and I looked along the rail and there kneeling were lawyers, judges, property developers, government advisers, married people, gay people, homeless people, people who had been the gaol. It gave me a glimpse of God’s will being done on earth as in heaven. - What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard? About a decade ago I had a lot of illness for about 5 years. Malaria, cancer, then a broken leg as well as the usual flu, bronchitis etc that comes from your immune system being compromised. I learnt to breath in the love of God and to be supported by the prayers of the community of God’s people. I learnt not to depend on my abilities but that God was dependable. - What are you passionate about? Changing the world to the ways of the Kingdom of God to fulfill the Lord’s prayer "Your Kingdom come; Your will be done; on earth as in heaven." - What do you enjoy doing when you rest? I love walking my dog Mo who is our house welcomer. I enjoy knitting and have a pretty impressive veggie patch and chickens. I like having people in my home (even though I am an introvert). I love having people for meals and Fuzz is a brilliant cook.