5 minutes with Taani

Tell us a little about you

I grew up in the beautiful Blue Mountains, the oldest of four children. Life was fun and chaotic, and centred around Jesus. We spent our Sundays at church, we did devotions at dinner, & I remember my dad praying and singing hymns with me before I went to sleep each night. I’m so thankful for the gift of this rich Christian heritage that I was born into!

I studied exercise and sport science, then went to Sydney Missionary and Bible College (SMBC) thinking I’d be heading overseas to do cross-cultural mission. God changed my direction (as He so often does!), & I was invited to join the team at The Bridge - a Bible-centred, mission-focussed gap year for 18-21year-olds. This is my twelfth year in the job, & I just love it! I have the wonderful opportunity to walk alongside young adults in their Christian journey, encourage them to think about global mission, & watch as God strengthens the foundations of their faith so that they might be lifelong followers of Him.

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

Ah it’s so hard to choose! The more I read God’s word, my wonder increases, my love for Him deepens, the more treasures I discover, and I end up with more favourite passages! I find that wherever I’m currently immersing myself in has a special richness and relevance for me. At the moment, I’m reading through the book of Hosea. What a wonderful picture of God’s love to His people who keep rejecting Him! How precious are these words of comfort from Hosea 2:14 - “Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her.” I was reminded that it’s often in those “wilderness moments” of our life, when things feel barren & dry, that we experience the tenderness of God in ways that we wouldn’t otherwise know.

How do you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus?

I’m so grateful that God provides us with so many different ways to engage with Him and delight in Him. I’m a person who thrives on routine, so I have a regular morning habit of time in the word, journalling and prayer, which helps to set my focus on Christ for the day ahead. Then at the end of each day, I read a psalm, reflect on the day, and give thanks for how I’ve seen Him at work. I also enjoy listening to worship music and old hymns, and love how God will often bring words back to my mind at just the right moment when I need some encouragement.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…” When I spoke recently on this passage, I was challenged about the things that hinder or entangle me as I seek to fix my eyes on Jesus. I’ve implemented screen time limits for my social media accounts, and better accountability structures for particular sin in my life, because I want to get rid of those things that impact my ability to fix my eyes on Jesus.

God has surrounded me with a precious community of believers who help point me to Jesus through all the ups and downs of life – my church family, Christian friends who I walk and pray with, overseas missionaries who encourage by their faithfulness in ministry, and particularly one with whom I meet to study Jerry Bridges’ “Pursuit of Holiness”. Such a blessing to know that we don’t do this alone!

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

Find your identity in Jesus alone! You are fully known and fully loved by Him, made in His image, with a race marked out for YOU. It’s so easy to get caught up comparing ourselves with others who seem cooler, smarter, holier, stronger, more worthy… God doesn’t ask us to become like someone else. He’s called us to become like His Son, the Lord Jesus. So, delight in who He made you to be, with all your strengths and quirks, and use every part of your life to love, honour and serve Him.

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

I’m part of a recent church plant, seeking to reach the culturally diverse area of Concord & Burwood. A joy each week is praying the Lord’s Prayer together in different languages, as a reflection of the different cultures and languages that make up our community. A particular highlight was the day one of our Chinese sisters was baptised, & led the Lord’s Prayer in her heart language - so special!

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

Two and a half years ago, my best friend Kathy passed away after a ten-week battle with cancer. During this really hard time, God constantly showed His goodness and kindness in really practical ways, through His word, and through the encouragement of others. Seeing Kathy’s steadfast hope in the face of her death was such a powerful reminder to me of the eternal assurance we have because of what Christ has done. Through that time, and in the years since, I have learned the preciousness of lament, & the gift it is that we can cry out to God in our grief and pain, knowing He hears, & He cares.

What are you passionate about?

Anyone who’s seen my home or my office knows I have a bit of a plant obsession! I do really love cultivating my indoor jungles, and have such joy at each new leaf, flower or fruit. But even more than my plants, I’m filled with joy seeing spiritual growth in believers, especially young adults. There are so many parallels between gardening and spiritual growth, as Jesus makes clear in John 15, explaining that He is the vine, we are the branches, and the Father is the gardener. Over and over again Jesus reminds His people to remain in Him, so that we can grow and bear much fruit. I’m passionate about helping young people learn to do this well, exploring what it means for them to remain in and delight in Christ, particularly through different spiritual disciplines. It is such a privilege that I get to do this every day in my job at The Bridge!

What do you enjoy doing when you rest?

I’m continually learning what it means to rest well – how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness and hurry of our anxious world! I really appreciate spending unhurried time in God’s creation - watching a sunrise by the beach is one of my favourite things to do! I also enjoy time with good friends, drinking coffee or eating delicious food.

I also find that exercise is a great way to rest. I’m a very amateur triathlete, and my training it is so good for my physical and mental health! I am so thankful for the body God has given me, that can run and swim and ride. The many hours spent running, swimming and cycling are a valuable opportunity to enjoy God’s creation, to pray, or to meditate on His word.

I really love this quote by Percy Ainsworth: “But you may in Christ find rest for your soul. You will rest in your work, knowing that duty is eternal; rest in your service of others, knowing that sacrifice is eternal; rest in your purest earthly communion, knowing that love is eternal. This is the hasteless life, and those that “believeth in Christ” will live it.” I want to increasingly live this hasteless life in Him!