5 minutes with Elizabeth

Tell us a little about yourself

My name is Liz, I'm an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Melbourne where I'm planting a new congregation in the Richmond area. I'm Mum to Emi (3), Sophie (3 months) and Doc (the pug furbaby). I married into a long-suffering Carlton family, but have the current privilege of having grown up in Penrith in a Panthers family. I have been known to fly interstate/international to see both sports teams and bands that I love, and am passionate about seeing people come closer to God in prayer.

Do you have a favourite Bible passage? If so, what is it and why?

It has long been Matthew 6:34, because it reminds me to keep my eyes on the present, but in this season it is Joshua 1:9, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

I'm the mum of two small girls, so my devotional life looks very different to before they were born. In this season of life, it is about surrounding myself with prayerful friends, listening to sermon podcasts as I drive to try and get small people to take naps, and enjoying the small things in life.

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

Surround yourself with other strong and faithful women, especially if you're walking a path into church leadership. Build one another up, be each other's biggest advocates, and pray for (and with) one another.

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

Our Sunday morning congregation is tri-lingual: English, Cantonese and Mandarin. There's a real beauty to being able to worship God and share in multiple languages. It took me a little while to get used to not being able to understand half the service, but now I love it.

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

I think each hard season of life has given me a consistent understanding that God always comes through. Maybe not in the way I expect, maybe not in the way that the world would expect, but he always comes through. 

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about seeing people empowered in prayer, and embracing the power of the Holy Spirit. I long to see God's Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven, and am passionate about the role that we get to play in helping see that come.

What do you enjoy doing when you rest?

Rest? Haha. Right now rest for me is time with my girls, with friends, with family. When I have a bit more space, I enjoy playing my guitar, trashy rom-coms, reading and spending time by the water.