5 minutes with Karyn

Tell us a little about you

I’m Karyn, I’m 35, I live and love in Townsville Queensland. I have been a Christian since I was 7 years old, after making an independent decision to follow Christ after specifically asking to attend a program at my local church, which at that time was Bowen AOG.

I originally felt the call of God on my life to serve humanity when I was a teen on a short-term missions trip in China, and subsequently trained for my Bachelor’s of Social Work at James Cook University. Unbeknownst to me at the time, God had other plans to use that training for working with people to pivot me in a different direction, which you will read about as my story unfolds.

What's your favourite bible passage and why?

I don’t have a specific favourite, but I am drawn to verses reminding us to consider wisdom, and also to remind us of God’s power to keep us and sustain us. Here are three of them:

Desiring God in tough times:

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”

- Psalms 42:1-2

In service to others:

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

- Galatians 6:9

For wisdom with things sacred:

“...Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs, they will only trample them underfoot.”

- Matthew 7:6

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

“Put on every piece of God’s armor... then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”

- Ephesians 6:13

Hardship will come in life. For me, life has not always been easy, and there are specific reasons for that are beyond my control relating to a disability. What I do know, is that I have a firm grip on faith. Even when I wasn’t able to comprehend it, or even describe it, I found it residing in me. The blessing of a lifetime in the Lord, means that in darkened times there is always a light. Even if it’s a mere glint, it’s there. Grip onto that ‘mustard seed’ we speak of. If in the least, you can summons a prayer that says: “God, I know you’re there, I know you’re real, I know I’m not alone right now.” Even when our emotions are seeking to defy the foundation of our faith, just cling to that. That is enough, that is plenty to sustain you.

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

You can do it. You can do all of it. I qualify that, by saying ‘if you are called to it’. So often we doubt ourselves, and feel hemmed in by the roar of external pressures, that we forget to hear the still small voice nudging us towards our purpose in life. Often, we start out in our late teens, early 20’s keen with a sense of God’s purpose in our lives. Slowly, the log intended for the fire is whittled down to a matchstick and we fail to launch.

“Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.”

- Habakkuk 2:2