‘Powerful in God’s hands’

I was born in 1951 and raised in Johannesburg. My family wasn’t religious – although we went to church on occasions, there was little talk about God at home. Any exposure to the gospel was at school in religious studies.

It was only in my last year of school when a close friend, Greg, was killed in a motorbike accident that I began to think about God. Death made me question: “Where has he gone? What happens when you die?”

Trying to comfort me, my mum called in a minister, whose words to me I still remember: “Jane you will make a good nurse.” That stuck in my head. A few years earlier I had met Peter (my now husband) in Cape Town, but being in different towns we went our separate paths. When my friend Greg was killed, I contacted Peter, and we reconnected. He fetched me from Johannesburg and I stayed with his family until I started my nursing training at Groote Schuur Hospital.   

Early married life

Peter and I were married in December 1971. Peter completed his law degree and I, my nursing diploma. In 1972 Pete was accepted at Cambridge, so while he studied I worked at the local hospital as a nurse. During that time, Peter’s tutor suggested he get confirmed and he also began reading the Bible to me. I just accepted it, it felt normal. We both had been christened as babies, and this was just another step. We returned to South Africa where Peter practised law, and I trained as a midwife in a hospital in Johannesburg. 

Peter was then offered a job in New York and I had to choose between working in intensive care or having a baby. Lisa was born in 1977. We moved to the States with a six-month-old baby that never slept and very little money, no support system and Pete worked 24/7. It was a tough time, but I survived because of wonderful friends. 

Two years later I was pregnant with our son Richard when we returned to South Africa in 1979. It was again a hard season: two small children, limited finances and Peter working all the time. I was not happy. I was a stay-at-home mum and I struggled. I had no mental stimulation and felt like a single parent. It made me resentful and bitter.

I believe God is stirring his people, to work together in love, across denominations, for the sake of the gospel

To regain my sanity, I enrolled at Unisa [distance learning institution] for a degree in community health and nursing education. It gave me a sense of purpose. Life was busy with two very active children and a husband who was seldom at home. I was coping – but only just.

Learning then teaching 

In 1980 I met a Christian woman whose calmness and peace struck me. I wanted what she had. She recommended I read the Gospel of John. I read about being born again and prayed: “Lord, I want to know you. Show me you’re real.” And he did.

At that time, I knew I was born again, but I also knew something was missing. I had started going to church, but it was only when a friend there asked me to assist with a ladies’ lunch that I discovered what it was. The guest speaker was Jean Guthrie. Jean invited people forward for prayer. When she prayed for me, the Holy Spirit touched me powerfully. I was never the same again. It was like being ignited. From that moment, I knew I needed to grow and learn. God needed to change me. I did not want to remain bitter and resentful.

I prayed: “Lord, I need teaching.” I found Philosophy of Christian Womanhood, a course for women. It was deep and demanding, but it was exactly what I needed. I then did Renewing Love, a course that was very similar but gentler. 

Then, for 20 years or more, I ran courses, two or three times a year with groups of women. It changed me! But like anything, it became seriously dated and the younger women did not take to it as the examples didn’t resonate and the format was too long. 

We realised we could lose the principles or offer them in a different way. My friend Dawn and I, with the support of the Renewing Love team in South Africa, rewrote the course and called it Love Renewed.

We recorded it, ran it in churches and made it widely available. At its core, it’s a discipleship course for women. It helps women recognise that once you become a Christian, your life is going to change. The Holy Spirit begins that work in you.

The course covers topics like healing from past baggage, forgiveness, being made in God’s image, understanding your value, managing control issues, raising children and the importance of the home. It’s all about helping women grow into their full potential – exactly as God designed them.

Branching out

This ministry to women led into counselling. I didn’t have a psychology degree, so I worked under the umbrella of the church. I trained under Selwyn Hughes, Rhema Bible College, South Africa Theological Seminary and eventually I completed a pastoral diploma through Irene Bible College, part of the Full Gospel Church.

Over time, my background in nursing and counselling began to blend together. I loved nursing – I still do – but I felt called to focus more on ministry.

While running the Love Renewed course, I also got involved in other areas. I stayed in touch with Jean Guthrie, who has taught me so much. I absolutely loved her cosmetics and the fun women in her business. The connection led to many exciting opportunities. 

However in 1998, I had a profound experience with the Lord which took me off on another track. I was driving into Graaff-Reinet, a small town in South Africa, and saw little homes built around the town. The people had a home, but little else. I asked the Lord: “How can we help these people?” And he said, “I want the Church to impact society.” I asked: “How do we do that?” And he said: “The churches must work together.”

I thought: “How on earth will that happen?”

Later that day, I went into a bank in Graaff-Reinet, and the Lord nudged me to speak to the teller. I told her: “God wants to do something in this town, but your pastors need to work together.” She looked at me and said: “You sound just like my pastor!” I asked for his name and got in touch with him. I discovered that he had been fasting and praying for the unity of the Church.

That encounter created a burning desire for unity and started a journey for me, networking with pastors, encouraging unity wherever I went. 

Calling Christians together 

In 2000, a senior police officer, Eban McLaren, asked for help bringing churches alongside police stations. I was not sure but he said to pray and told me to watch a video called Transformations. We went on holiday to Cape Town, where Pete’s cousin handed me the same video, saying: “I don’t know why, but God says you need this.” 

It was all I needed to know I was to help Eben. We began calling churches to pray together – sometimes in churches, sometimes in police stations. The Catholics, Baptists, charismatics all joined in. It was amazing. Then Eban was promoted, but said I must go on. I was way out of my depth, but the Lord said: “Keep going.” 

I partnered with Fanie van Vuuren from the Christian Police Association. We saw God move powerfully in police stations and communities. It was always different; some stations welcomed us, while others did not, but we kept showing up. 

The message of unity is still burning in my heart. Here in the UK, we’re facing increasing pressure to stay silent about faith. But I believe God is stirring his people, here and in South Africa, to work together in love, across denominations, for the sake of the gospel. 

Saying yes to God’s ways

Pete and I have been married for 54 years. I think Pete came to the Lord before I did, but his Church was in the African bush – in nature. Our children also came to faith in their own time, in their own ways.  

What I’ve learned through all of this is simple: hands off. Trust the Holy Spirit. Let him do what only he can do. Our job is to love and pray. The rest is his.

Of course, life hasn’t always been easy. I think it’s important that people know that, even when we walk with God, there are still hard seasons. In our 54 years of marriage we have had some serious challenges, but with God’s help we got through them. Marriage requires maintenance. Bringing up children was a major challenge and caused many rows. I know that if God had not changed me, we would not have made it. 

I remember trusting God, holding onto his promise that he doesn’t make mistakes. I clung to him and things always shifted. He brought healing – first in me, then in our marriage and home. Looking back now, I see it was his grace carrying us.

If I could say anything to young women, it would be this: you don’t need to be like a man to be powerful in God’s hands. You were created as a woman on purpose, with your own beauty, strength, sensitivity and design. God can use you in places no man can reach. Embrace that.

When women discover their worth and identity in Christ, they come alive. That’s why I’ve stayed so passionate about teaching and discipling women. I’ve seen it in South Africa, in the UK, in America…women touched by the Holy Spirit, set free and stepping into their callings. You just have to say yes. That’s all it takes. Say yes, keep saying yes and watch what he will do.

The Love Renewed course is free of charge, available in a downloadable format: love-renewed.com