My name is Melissa Lipsett and I am the Chief Operating Officer of Bible Society Australia. I love serving in a mission organisation with the international and domestic reach and history of BSA! I’m excited about the future too, as helping people know the love of Jesus is something I’m passionate about. Before Bible Society I served in the local church for 20 years – a large evangelical church on the Gold Coast so I’m a Queenslander through and through. And before that, I was an officer in the Australian military. It’s been a diverse career/vocational life! I’m married – and have been for an awfully long time – we were very young….and we have two – both wonderful but very different –
Tell us a little about you I was ordained in 2017 as a deacon in the Sydney Anglican Diocese, but it was quite a journey to get to that point. Originally, I trained and worked as a high school English and Drama teacher, which was a terrific vocation. But then I felt compelled to do theological study while the children were small, and eventually I went into parish ministry. Now I have been called back to the school environment where I work as a chaplain across K-12. This is a happy collision of the teaching, learning and pastoral work that I love. I’ve been married for twenty years this year and have two delightful, funny teenagers. And a furbaby – a cavoodle. How do you keep your eyes fixed
"Sorry God, it’s been a while.” This is how I feel like most of my prayers should start. I have structured my life to include prayer - grace at meals, for example, and each evening our family does Teaspoon (TSP) prayers where each person has a go at a 3 sentence prayer, “Thank you God for… Sorry God that I… Please God… Amen.” And when I say I’ll pray for someone I generally stop what I’m doing and do it straight away because otherwise I know I’ll forget. But that’s about it for me and prayer. I’m not one for pouring out my heart to God. He doesn’t talk back! He doesn’t nod his head in the right parts, or interject with some prescient piece of advice. (I know some people have experiences like
I am astonished by God's generosity to me: grew up in a loving Christian family, have a wonderful marriage to Neil and 4 adult children, all Christians. & beautiful grand children. Always wanted to write a book and now am onto my 7th. Opportunities for Christian service in my local church, including preaching regularly. Favourite bible passage: Psalm 73:23-26. God's love and presence with me forever. Loving him first is pre-eminent. Sometimes my gazes wanders: I need daily reading of the Scriptures, a heart ready to speak to and listen to God, and good, wise friends. For the next generation: If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we
I have been working in Churches for over 12 years in operations and administration. I love the work and the people I come in contact with day to day. I have a background in Marketing and PR and use those skills where I can. I’m married with two boys, a step daughter and two grandsons. I have lived in Sydney most of my life (apart from a stint in London), and love this city! My favourite bible passage Romans 8:17 “Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” I love that we are co-heirs with Christ, not slaves of some honoured family, not neighbours but brothers and s
Tell us a little about you I'm a late 20s federal public servant, currently enjoying Sydney's inner west lifestyle. I love tea, Jane Austen and spending time with friends. What's your favourite bible passage & why? In countless hard times, I keep coming back to Isaiah 40:28-31. I think it's a beautiful picture of God's protection, strength and care that I can cling to in our weakest moments. Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young
Tell us a little about you My name is Gillian, I live on the coal coast north of Wollongong, married to Brett with 3 delightful adult children and a wacky dog. My husband and I founded the Christian surfers movement in Cronulla in the late 70’s and there began God’s passion in us for the church to engage our communities in the language and stories of each generation (or surfing tribe in our case). Now CS is an International movement and I serve as a board member and am like an elder (one who has been around for a long time!). My parallel universe is as an educator, teaching religious education in public and independent schools. I also consult on a myriad of issues around education, construc
Tell us a little about you. I’ve lived in Brisbane for nearly 19 years, but I grew up, went to school, and got married in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa during the turbulent apartheid era. After graduating from university, I was employed as a laboratory analyst and worked in an oil blending plant. There I was one of 3 women among a staff of 15, and the only white, so it was quite a change to what I had experienced growing up. I learned a lot about ethnic and religious diversity, multiculturalism, racism, and sexism. Then, in the late nineties we made the difficult decision to emigrate. Despite this being the best decision for our children’s future and the fact that we are so thankful to be a
What's your favourite bible passage & why? It's hard to choose just one and I'm very tempted to go with the tried and tested Philippians 4:6-7. But instead maybe I'll highlight a lesser known one that has been very important for me. As someone who can get a bit overly conscientious and risk burning myself out, John 6:28-29 has been a great source of comfort to me: "Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” When I'm wondering whether I'm doing enough for God, this reminds me that all that is required of me is trust. How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? I have to admit I've found t
What's your favourite bible passage & why? This has changed over the years depending on what ministry God has called me into. I believe for the next season of life and ministry, Prov 31:8,9 are quite defining: Proverbs 31:8-9 New Living Translation (NLT) Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. I am at a point in life where God is asking me to use what I have learnt and the resources that in my hand, to be of help to those who need it most. We have a part to play that is certainly not passive and we need to use the voice God has given us to advocate for others. How
Tell us a little about you I am Jo - a strong, loyal, honest, hard-working woman, committed to serving Jesus and learning more in order to be transformed by God’s grace. Currently, I’m a full-time (Licenced) Lay Minister for Youth, Children and Families at a vibrant Anglican church in Brisbane…. just completing the last two subjects of my Bachelor of Theology. What's your favourite bible passage & why? Psalm 103:1-5 is my prayer, my testimony, and my hope. Let my whole being bless the Lord! Let everything inside me bless his holy name! Let my whole being bless the Lord and never forget all his good deeds: how God forgives all your sins, heals all your sickness, saves your life from the
Tell us a little about you I am a highly sensitive, over-thinking introvert, who loves to delve into the deeper meaning of life and who values relationships above most other things. My academic pursuits have been in psychology, English literature, gender studies and politics, including notions of identity and the politics of power. I have worked in the areas of social policy, parliamentary research, family and domestic violence counselling, and as a conciliator for the Anti-discrimination Board. I am a feminist, a survivor and a Christian. And I am a daughter, sister and wife, and first-time mother in her forties who is currently acclimatising to her new identity and role as parent.
Tell us a little about you I am an Aboriginal Christian Leader and a descendant of the Waka Waka peoples. I was born in Cairns and grew up in, and now reside in Redcliffe on Gubbi Gubbi country so Redcliffe is very much home. I was raised with my younger sister in a single parent home by my Mum who inspires me by her strength, passion, loyalty and by helping others less fortunate then we were. I become a Christian 17 years ago at the age of 21. I am the Aboriginal spokesperson for Common Grace and Co-ordinator of The Grasstree Gathering. I work ecumenically speaking on issues of Justice affecting our nation and sharing a message of Reconciliation as friendship. I am a speaker, a writer, a
About me I am a dramatically saved, beautifully free, humbly grateful, graciously blessed woman of God. I have known pain, sorry, isolation and despair. But now I live a life of healing, of laughter, of love and of joy all thanks to Jesus! I have been a Christian now for 18 years and have been married for 8 and have 3 incredible children. I was born in Adelaide but have lived in Melbourne since 2010 and love it here. It truly is the land of lattes, and who doesn't love a latte! I have a true love and heart for people and love to encourage others to be the best them that they can be. Because I have known love so deeply from when I met Jesus, I just want others to feel the same kind of love
Tell us a little about you I am the 55 year old woman, mother of two beautiful adults (a son and daughter), who has wrestled with the call to priestly ministry for 40 years. At 51, after at least three previous promptings by the Spirit (including a time in my 30’s when I went to Theological School while I was caretaker at a Anglican Parish in Sydney, living in the rectory with my two children), I was on a silent retreat with the Third Order Franciscans (I am a tertiary of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis) and God spoke LOUDLY to me in the silence. I had a really good corporate career and I was worshiping in a beautiful church where I was very involved, I was involved in NFP’s
And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? - Esther 4:14 It is unlikely that we will ever be able to truly comprehend the impact that each of our individual lives will make on the world around us. It is not possible (to my great displeasure) to back-track and discover how we have influenced the people that we have met. On the flip side of this, that might just be a good thing. If we only knew how that negative attitude or off-the-cuff remark hurt that person that one time, or how when we failed to stand up for something that we truly believed in what impact that may have had on a situation or even the course of a life. On the other hand, we must remember
A little about me: I have just shockingly turned 60 ... how could that be? But now that the shock has settled, I am so grateful for all the blessings of this life, all that I have experienced and the love and grace I have been shown. I have 3 children, a loving husband, 5 stepchildren and 4 grandchildren between us, so life is never quiet or without incident of one kind or another! Favourite Bible passage and why? Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." I have never thought of myself as particularly strong. Growing up I felt rather weak as I felt others judged me for my conservative
“Where are you?” the Spirit whispered to me. “I am right here!” I quickly replied. “Where?” He asked again. “I am here. I am with my family – teaching my daughter Your ways and loving my husband. I am in Your House – building your church. I am with my friends – encouraging and supporting them to be all that You have called them to be. I am right here!” The Spirit whispered to me again, “I didn’t ask what you were doing, I asked where you were.” I sat stunned by my inability to answer this question. Where was I? The truth is I didn’t know where I was. I was so lost in the busyness, in the chaos, in the constant motion of life. The busyness, the stress and the chaos had become the only places
Tell us a little about you I was recently described as "an English teacher, pastor, feminist, journalism graduate and punk-crafter" and that about sums it up! I'm also allowed to feed and cuddle a Russian Blue cat. What's your favourite bible passage & why? I spent a long time with the book of Habakkuk and I just love it. The extremity and intensity of Habakkuk's final hymn of trust in God smacks me in the face every time I read it. So, Habakkuk chapter 3. How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus? One of the privileges of living alone, waking up alone, making breakfast alone, is that you have a lot of space to remember and acknowledge Jesus' presence with you. My favourite author, Adrian Pla
