5 minutes with Ally ...

Tell us a little about you

I grew up in a Christian home and I am very thankful for this heritage. I migrated to Australia with my family at age 6. I am now married to an Aussie, work as a General Practitioner and my husband and I are involved in serving particularly among international people at our church.

What's your favourite bible passage & why?

Romans 8:28-30 - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

These verses give me a ‘big picture’ perspective on all that goes on in my life, reminding me that in everything, whether seemingly good or bad, God is working for my good, making me more like Christ and bringing me to glory with him. What a great hope and anchor!

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

Spending time daily listening to Jesus speak through his bible helps me to fix my eyes on him and calibrate my thoughts, desires and actions to be in line with his. I try to be prayerful throughout the day as I go about my various daily tasks, fixing my eyes on Jesus by depending on him in everything I do.

What would you like the next generation of Christian women to know?

I would love the next generation of Christian women to know that there is nothing greater than knowing Christ Jesus our Lord! (Philippians 3:8) We don’t need to be part of the world’s endless and ultimately futile pursuit for satisfaction in the things of this world, because God has given us that which will completely satisfy us for all eternity - Jesus himself. We don’t need to get caught up in the pursuit of whatever it is that the world tells us we should pursue for our happiness - money, house, career, relationship, children, possessions, beauty, or anything else. None of these will actually satisfy. May we instead keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on knowing, loving and obeying him, for he alone gives true joy and satisfaction.

What's one thing that you love about your local church?

I love my church’s commitment to proclaiming the gospel - clearly, faithfully, persistently. I love that anyone who comes along will have the opportunity to hear the good news of God reaching out to offer us friendship with him through Jesus.

What did you learn about God at a time in your life you found hard?

The times when I have found life hard have been the times when I have felt out of control, when things have not gone the way that I would like. However each and every time, as I come out the other end, I can look back and see how God has brought about greater good that far surpassed (and was much different!) to what I had imagined. So through times when I have found life hard I have learned that God is always in control and at work for good, and so he can always be trusted.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about all God’s people being encouraged and equipped for his service. I love that all Christians are saved for good works (Ephesians 2:10) and that everyone in the church has been given an indispensable part to play. (1 Corinthians 12) I am so thankful to God for the opportunities that my husband and I have had to be involved in equipping people to serve in various ways in the church: small group leading, one-to-one discipleship, ESL ministry, pastoral care, welcoming - to name a few. It has been a great joy to see people being trained and then going out and serving those God gives them to serve!

I am also passionate about trying to live a ‘joined up life’ - to be consistent across all spheres of life, seeking to live always as a child of God whose goal is to honour him and reflect his goodness to others. One example of how I try to do this is to not shy away from offering to pray with a patient in distress, just as I would if I were catching up with someone from my bible study group who is in distress.

What do you enjoy doing when you rest?

I love to drink tea, eat yummy food, read, crochet/knit and ride my bicycle.