The opportunity to serve in leadership positions in organizations at MUW while completing her degree in nursing gave her invaluable experience in decision making, working with different personalities, building organizational skills, and in balancing participation in multiple activities. She learned how to follow through with assignments, complete tasks, to keep a calendar and write things down. She is very grateful for her education in nursing through which she gained skills and knowledge which continue to be extremely useful. In fact, she still thinks of herself as a nurse who is just working in a different field.
As Director of Children's Ministries, Jane enjoys the interaction with the children and their parents. The parents are all younger than she is now so that keeps her in touch with the younger families in the church and that helps keep her young! She loves the thoughts and ideas that the children share with her and watching as their childlike faith grows and they begin to personally understand and experience what the Christian faith is all about. Their questions challenge her and her preparation to lead causes her to grow, as well. It’s an exciting opportunity to have a front row seat to watch God at work in the lives of the children, their families and their church.
Jane finds it challenging to discover ways to encourage parents to balance their family schedules to reflect the importance of ministry/spiritual opportunities, both at home and at church. Along those same lines, it is challenging to encourage and equip parents to serve as the primary spiritual leaders for their children.
"In ministry" she said, "as in many careers, you never seem to finish. There is always something more that could be done. It is sometimes challenging to know when and how to stop and take time for myself."
When asked what advice she would have for MUW students considering a ministry like hers, Ms. Windham said "Pray about it and look for God’s leading. Certainly a degree in a ministry area is very beneficial, but the lack of formal education in ministry does not disqualify one from serving in a ministry area. It’s true that God equips those He calls. I once heard a calling defined as where your talents and interests intersect with the needs of the world."
Jane is honored to be a part of her church's active children’s ministry program focusing on spiritual growth, fellowship, service and family support, as well as its excellent weekday ministries program. She believes their music, missions, and youth programs are strong. They offer both traditional and contemporary worship opportunities along with small group Bible studies. You can learn more at their website.
As a Christian, Jane believes that God has revealed Himself to us through Jesus Christ so that faith and belief in Jesus as Savior is the “path” to God. "I know this to be true not just because the Bible says it but because it has been proven to me time and time again throughout my life" she remarked.
Jane has been married to Gary for 28 years; and has 3 sons ages 23, 21 and 19. Her sister, Gail Griffith, is the MUW Wesley Foundation Director and her brother, Hugh Griffith, is a United Methodist pastor and is the Wesley Foundation Director at Mississippi State University. Her mom recently moved to Starkville from south Mississippi. Since church has been such an integral part of her family’s life, mixing ministry and family responsibilities seems natural to her. One of Jane's sons, noting the convenience of having her office at the church, said he thought every family should have an office at church to leave things, meet each other and use the computer! Even with weekend responsibilities and week-night meetings, the sometimes long and unusual hours are balanced by the flexibility of working hours during the day. Her husband and sons have always been very involved in and supportive of children’s ministry. The main drawback of her ministry is that since she works on Sundays, weekend family trips are limited.
When not busy at church Jane enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with family.
Thanks Jane, for spending time with us today. It sounds like the children in your church are lucky to have you.
