Jan McDonald

About Me

I was born and bred in Wanganui but have lived most of my life in Taupo. Scott and I have been married for 44 years and love being involved with our two children, their spouses and four young grandchildren. I became a Christian when I was 17. Since then, God has been my rock and the centre of my life. Without His love, faithfulness and healing my life would have been “off the rails”!

What Do I Bring to the Eldership Role?

Most of my career was as a teacher, both High School and Primary. During the last thirteen years of my working life I re-trained as a counsellor at Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, then set up a private practice. Relationship counselling was the area that became a main focus. We shifted to Papamoa from Taupo one year ago and were very excited to find such a vibrant church. At Taupo Baptist I was a worship leader, and Scott and I ran a home group. Two things I think I could bring to the role of elder is the ability to hear God’s voice, which has been honed over the years through prayer, journalling, worship leading and counselling. Also being able to see the “bigger picture”.

My Hope for GSB

My hope for GSB is that as we are transformed individually and corporately by God’s love, we become a tight-knit, unified and caring community with a common vision, which is a magnet for hurting people.