5 minutes with Jane ...

Tell us a little about you

I’m 57 and was a primary school teacher for about 25 years. I’m married to an Anglican Bishop in the diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

I have 4 adult children, two of whom are married and we have three little granddaughters aged 1, 2 and 3.

What's your favourite bible passage & why?

I love the book of Proverbs and read a chapter each morning with my husband (one for each day of the month)

My favourite for many years has been Proverbs 2:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

I try and read the gospels regularly – Matthew Mark, Luke and John - to remind me of the person of Jesus and his character and commands. I like to sing songs to Him and about Him.

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

I read in the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World about doubt, discouragement and distraction – how Satan loves to use these to slow us down and hold us back. Comparisons with each other, competition and feelings of inadequacy can be minimised as we encourage and strengthen each other in our faith, our families and our outlook on life. Young Christian women have so much to give to other young women.

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

I love our playgroup called Little Sheep (because Jesus is our Shepherd and because we live in Goulburn and have that massive statue of a sheep).

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

The hardest time in my life brought me very close to God - because I was so helpless - and realised again how much I depend on my heavenly Father and how trustworthy he was to support me through this.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about families – young mothers, parenting and supporting women as they go through this stage.

What do you enjoy doing when you rest?

I’m learning to patchwork – just squares so far! And I like to draw with a black pen and read books.