Interview Janey Lawry-White
Janey is the Chief Operating Officer of Westminster Theological Centre ( www . wtctheology . org . uk ), an interdenominational , charismatic theological college which exists to serve the UK church by offering university validated theological programmes to church leaders and members throughout the United Kingdom .
She is also an MA student at WTC and Managing Director of WTC Consulting Ltd ., which is the consulting wing of the college .
Janey believes that how Christian organisations are run and managed should reflect Kingdom principles and values , and that the church should be leading society in this as in other areas .
She has been a Christian all her life . Her early Christian life was worshipping and being received into membership in the Methodist church , going on to worship in different denominations and independent churches since then . Janey has loved taking the opportunity to study with WTC over the past seven years - a faith-deepening and lifechanging experience .
What led you to a life in ministry ?
I believe that all Christians are God ’ s image bearers ( Gen 1:26,27 ), and we are therefore all to live out Kingdom values in every area of our lives , including our working lives , whether that is paid or unpaid work . So , all life is ministry for Christians . It ’ s part of being on God ’ s ‘ team ’ and using every opportunity , wherever we are , to model Kingdom values and ways of doing things .
My working life has included working in humanitarian and development settings with governments , NGOs , the United Nations , and - most recently - working with WTC to run the operational side of the college and managing the consulting entity .
I ’ ve also been privileged to be a wife , mother , daughter , sister , colleague , and friend . In all these situations , I believe we are called to live in line with the values of God . While we may succeed to a greater or lesser extent in different situations , hopefully we are becoming more Christlike through our life experiences .
Which person from the Bible do you most identify with and why ?
Among others , I identify with the Proverbs 31 woman , with the goal of being a strong and effective businesswoman , organiser , marriage partner , aware of and responding to community needs .
Recognising our own gifts and talents , and encouraging and promoting other people ’ s gifts , so that we can all become everything that God intended us to be . I think this is a wonderful model of a person who is strong and confident , making the most of opportunities which are available to them , and growing in wisdom and faith .
What do you enjoy most about preaching ?
I don ’ t think of myself as a preacher but have been asked to speak in church in the last few years since studying with WTC , which has been an honour .
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