Jacquie Anderson

Hello! My name is Jacquie Anderson and I am a mother, daughter, wife, sister, teacher, poet. My husband Doug and I have lived in the Comox Valley for 23 years now. We have 3 grown children—Hannah, Madeline and Simon—and 2 sons-in law, Colin and Jackson. Our children are currently living in Victoria and the Vancouver area. 

I am so grateful that Jesus called me many years ago to walk with him on the road of life. He has been my constant companion, comforter, critical friend, and Lord for nearly all my life. In fact, even for the couple of years when I intentionally sought out other options—namely the usual adolescent preoccupations—I first told him that I was going to do so but would be back once I was a grown up. Hah! That plan lasted for not even two years—because my Christian friends were just too appealing! 

I was fortunate in my teen and young adult years to be surrounded by many wise and mature Christian mentors due to my involvement with Pioneer Camps (run by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship). These loving adults challenged me to take my life seriously. They helped me nurture the eye of faith which sees our ordinary lives, and ordinary experiences, and excursions in this ordinary world, and translates them into revelations of God’s beauty, mercy, love and redemptive purposes. 

Jesus never ceases to surprise and challenge me. Just when I think I am getting comfortable, he urges me onward, into new learning and challenge (like becoming an elder!). Through life struggles and joys, relationship challenges and resolutions, work conundrums, and church engagement over these many years, he still shapes that eye of faith in me, so that I am intrigued by Him and keep seeking his way forward. 

I am a teacher in the Comox Valley, now serving as a district support teacher. I love my job! It is a privilege to come alongside teachers and walk with them in their learning, enjoying their students with them, and growing my skills as an educator and leader. Part of my role for the district includes engaging with a variety of community partners in the field of Early Learning and this has been an exciting new aspect of my work for the past couple of years as I make connections with people in our community over a wide network of affiliations. 

A few years ago, Doug and I began attending Living Hope Church, at the encouragement of our dear friends, Dave and Krista Barlow. We knew very quickly that this was a community that would provide ways for us to serve and grow in love for this church family. I had no idea then what God had in store for us, or for this church. But I had an inkling, and said to Doug, “This feels like a place where God can do something!” I still believe that, and have been so encouraged in the past three years particularly, in witnessing God’s faithfulness to us in times of uncertainty, and His grace to us throughout this challenging pandemic time.