Footprints Australia - Janet's Testimony

"Positive, balanced and uplifting, Footprints magazine is so much more than a magazine for Australian Christian women ... it's an evangelism tool."

Thought I'd share my own personal story and what a difference God has made to my life.

When I was 13, I went to a youth club at the church up the road - probably more to give my mother a break, than anything! One night they showed the film, "A Thief in the Night" about what might happen when Jesus returns to the earth. I was absolutely petrified! Long after everybody had gone to bed that night, I can remember going to the kitchen for a drink of water and the call of God was just so strong that right there and then, I knelt in the dark and asked Jesus into my heart. That was in 1981.

From that point on I was usually heavily involved in youth group and church activities, but I have to be honest, church was more of a social outlet to me than a place of worship.

AS A NEW MUM
However, it wasn't until about 11 years ago - when my first child was a baby - that I got serious about my faith and really started to care what Jesus wanted from me.

It all began in August 1994. My sister's best friend, Nicola, phoned and asked me to be her prayer partner (we used to attend the same youth group, years before). To say I was surprised was an understatement! Pray? Who me?! But she had special reason for asking. You see, my sister Anissa was experiencing the agony of infertility. It was Nicola's desire to pray Anissa and her husband through this painful time - so how could I refuse? I figured that it couldn't hurt - and it might even do some good. Such faith I had - NOT!

PRAYER PARTNERS
As Nicola and I began to pray over the phone each Monday morning, we saw "little miracles" begin to happen straight away, which encouraged us to keep "plodding on" in faith. We were determined to pray until God gave Anissa a baby - inspired by the New Testament story where a woman bangs on a judge's door until she got the answer she wanted.

OUR LITTLE MIRACLE - MELODY!
God is soooo good - exactly one year later, Anissa announced that she was finally pregnant, and on April 23^rd 1996, my precious niece, Melody Elise, was born.

What struck me most from the entire situation was that all I expected, was to pray and bless someone else, yet God used it to touch MY life, and to develop my personal relationship with Him.

A VISION IS BORN
The Footprints chapter of my life began in September 1997, when I was on a ladies camp with Joanne. We began talking about how there is very little in the way of magazines for Christian women in Australia. I think it’s important that we are careful what we feed not just our bodies, but our minds and spirits with. And I just couldn’t justify feeding my spirit with this sort of junk.

Joanne and I wished for something Australian, that was positive and uplifting, balanced, that addressed the issues we faced as women going into a new millennium, yet at the same time, just a good read! All of a sudden I can remember sitting up and saying to Jo, "Hey, * I * really love to write. Maybe I should be the one to do something about this need, one day!" She thought it was a great idea and so Footprints was born!

THE WHEELS ARE SET IN MOTION
At the time I had a 10 month old baby and a 3 year old. I thought there was no way I could pursue this dream at least until my children were at school - maybe 5 years down the track. Ha! God had other ideas! The idea just wouldn’t go away and I had a continual stream of great ideas running through my brain. I took to keeping a notepad on me at all times to scribble down all these fantastic ideas.

Around the same time, we had a lady preacher at my church during this time who spoke on getting out there and making your dreams happen, rather than waiting for God to drop them in your lap. I was very excited and encouraged by her message. Then a fellow in my church prayed for me, and he felt that God was saying that I was at the start of something big, and that I should step out. This was from somebody who had NO idea what was brewing! So in the end I said, "God, I give up! I’ll do it!”

THE LAUNCH OF "FOOTPRINTS FOR WOMEN"
I was very excited and prayed about it heaps. I shared my idea with anybody who’d stop to listen. Most people looked at me as though I was going crazy but I was very blessed to find half a dozen friends who seemed to "catch the vision" and with their help the first issue of Footprints was launched in January 1998, just 4 months after the original idea hit me.

Five years have passed since then, and I've learnt that there’s no greater joy or privilege, than to serve the Lord with what you love doing. Yes, Footprints takes many hours of my time, effort and prayers but it is so very very rewarding. I never cease to be thrilled when I hear that it really has made a difference in somebody’s life, or picked them up when they were feeling down.

Since then, the ministry has expanded to include a comprehensive website, an email chat group for women, a monthly email newsletter the Footprints E-News, guest speakers for your event and even a book, "Clues to your Calling". What next?!

THE ROAD AHEAD
So what lies ahead for me - and Footprints? Somebody once told me that you can tell if your dream or vision is a "God thing" if it's bigger than you are. That is so true about Footprints. When I started out, I knew very little about running a "ministry", let alone putting a magazine together, writing articles, designing web pages - hey, I didn't even have access to the internet! But as my husband said at the time, if I was serious about this vision, I would have written Footprints by hand if I'd had to - and he was right! (Praise God, at least I had a computer way back then, even if it was out of the ark!). It's certainly been a steep learning curve, but also such a blessing to watch God bring this vision to pass in my life.

I currently have half a dozen "books" simmering – but the most likely, the next one to be released will be ”The Only Way is UP: a Christian’s Guide to Depression”. As God gives me the ideas, the ability, the time, the resources, the equipping, and the finances, I hope that many more books will be published under the banner of the Footprints ministry. There is even some talk of releasing a “Best of Footprints” book to celebrate our tenth birthday in 2008!

1. FIRSTLY, Asking Jesus into your life will start you off on the most exciting journey. There is always a blessing; or a new friend in Christ; the joy of an answered prayer; a new revelation of God and his goodness; a gift or talent revealed; or an interesting project, just around the corner. Following Jesus gives life meaning. God is REAL and He answers prayers. If you don't know Jesus and would like to know more, why not take a moment to ask Him into your life right now? Just email me of your decision, and I will be delighted to pray with you and write to encourage you in your new walk with God.

2. AND FINALLY, Every Christian is on a faith journey, no matter what church we may go to. Even though we are of all ages, and stages, let's support one another! The Footprints Ministry is about women helping women, sharing their experiences and testimonies in the hope that it will assist others. Don't be afraid to dream, or to step out in faith and try something new - if God is in it, it will prosper. If He isn't, it won't. But you'll never know til you try!

If you would like to email Janet about her story, please click on the email below

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Phone: 0415 937 655 | Email: editor@footprintsaustralia.com | Postal Address: PO Box 1962 Cleveland DC Qld 4163 Australia

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