Meet Alison

Alison, tell us about your family.

My immediate family is me and my daughter who is currently studying floristry at TAFE. My mum lives with my brother and his wife, and I have two sisters.

What does a typical week look like for you?

I work as a merchandiser three days a week. On Fridays, I walk early with a National Heart Foundation group then spend the day visiting my mum in Wentworth Falls. On Sundays, I like to be part of a church family wherever I am—mainly Box Hill, but if I’m away, I like to find a church to attend and meet with other Christians. I also have Bible study on Tuesday nights and tennis on Wednesday nights.

What do you enjoy doing on a day off?

I enjoy gardening and reading, crossword puzzles and sudokus, entertaining, seeing family and friends, tennis, and swimming.  In late November, I usually take a week to head up to Queensland with friends from school days.

What do you appreciate the most about living in the Box Hill area? 

I enjoy the fact that there are lots of trees where I live, and I also appreciate the good transport networks.  We’ve lived here just over ten years and we’ve made lots of friends in the local area.

How long have you been a Christian, and who was it that first told you about Jesus?

I come from a Christian family and have always heard about Jesus.  I can’t remember a specific time when I gave my life to Christ. I guess I’ve been a ‘work in progress’ all my life, encouraged by many along the way—from family, church, and school.

What has encouraged you from God’s word recently?

In Ephesians Chapter 3, through Paul’s powerful prayer, I’ve been reminded of how amazing God is and the wonder, love, and strength of Christ dwelling in us through faith: ‘I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.’ Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

What are your hopes for the future?

I’m praying that, through this church in Box Hill, many will come to know Christ and give their lives to Him. That we will all be a great encouragement to each other and that Christ and his Word will be the centre of everything we do.

Is there an amusing fact about you that you’d be happy to share?

I’d love to go up in a hot air balloon. I’m not sure why really, as I’ve paraglided in the past and I found it to be the most terrifying and appalling experience! (A gift from my husband who wouldn’t do it himself!)

Ask me later this year—I’m hoping my hot air balloon dream will be fulfilled in Spring.

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