When Carolyn moved to Australia from New Zealand with her husband, God had already prepared a path for her. Shortly after settling in Caringbah in southern Sydney (where FEBC Australia is located), Carolyn saw a job opportunity on her church’s newsletter and applied. That was 16 years ago. Carolyn has been with FEBC Australia since, serving as an accountant.
In addition to serving, Carolyn and her husband are long-time donors to FEBC Australia. She firmly believes in the effectiveness of media to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. “And FEBC has people on the ground to disciple those who have heard, which is very important and impactful.”
Carolyn working with former team member Jenny, who served in FEBC Australia since the 1980s. (Photo taken in 2011.)
Her conviction stems partly from her experiences. Bible stories on shortwave radio and the Bible reading with American missionaries (who were her university English teachers in Harbin, China) gradually introduced Carolyn, then an atheist, to Jesus.
In awe of God’s love
John 3:16 was one of the first Bible verses Carolyn encountered. After 35 years of walking with Jesus, she remains in awe of God’s love. “I can hardly comprehend the enormity of God’s love. Giving up His one and only Son for our eternal welfare is heartbreaking,” the mother of three adult children reflects. “This demonstrates how valuable we are to God. I am still a sinner and continually learning, but God has never given up on me, and He never gives up on us. He is so faithful.”
Compelled by God’s love, Carolyn is passionate about sharing her hope in Christ with others. “I see the need; so many people still don’t know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Without Him, I would be pursuing money, fame, and status, believing that was success. Now, I define success as knowing Jesus, serving His people. I have the hope that when I die, it is not the end but that I will be with God in glory. I want other people to know about this hope that brings so much joy.”
Blessed to give
Carolyn feels profoundly blessed by her service and contributions. “I am incredibly grateful for our partners. Each time I answer their calls, their joy and overflowing gratitude humble me. Sometimes, I hear, ‘Sorry, I can only give you $10 because I’m on a pension.’ It melts my heart to see their deep desire to give.
When my children were young, I sometimes worried, ‘What if there isn’t enough?’ But I’ve learned that faith and joy grow when we put our trust in God. Giving is a gesture of gratitude and an expression of the overflowing love God has shown us—I just can’t contain it,” Carolyn shares, her smile wide and her arms gesturing the flow of a fountain, expressing the overflowing joy she has found in Christ.
“Through the years, I have seen God’s faithfulness. It is not about us as individuals or FEBC as an organisation; it is His will, His plan, and His kingdom. We are blessed to be part of it.”
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