Episode 56: Ann Austin

When Ann’s young husband died suddenly of a cardiac arrest, her world was understandably rocked. In today’s episode, Ann Austin talks to Taryn Hayes about what she means by a startling statement that she often makes when reflecting on that time.  She talks also of her years as a missionary in Kenya and South Africa, as well as her current journey of caring for her husband, Tom, during a difficult cancer diagnosis and treatment. 

 

EPISODE NOTES:

Ann Austin counts herself a homemaker, a Bible study leader, and a women’s mentor. But, she has also lived much of her life as a missionary in Kenya and South Africa for 25 years, along with her husband Tom. This included training others in chronological Bible storying workshops in Kenya and South Africa and leading oral inductive Bible studies for women prisoners in South Africa. Ann counts this experience as the most cross-cultural ministry experience of her 25 years on the mission field and one where she has never before felt so reliant on the Holy Spirit. Ann came to faith in Christ while in university through reading the book of Romans. She was struck by her sinfulness and need for a Saviour. Since then, the book of Romans has been a source of comfort and strength in many of her life situations. Ann is the mother of two adult daughters and grandmother to five littlies.

NOTE FROM SHOW HOST:

Many years ago, when I first met today’s guest, she said something that has stuck with me ever since. It was that the emergency room is no place to figure out one's theology. She said this when telling me about the traumatic event of losing her first husband to a sudden cardiac arrest at a very young age. In our chat today, Ann will tell us the story and what she meant when she said that. You will notice a few things in our chat today - one will be Ann’s beautiful Southern American accent. The other will be the not so beautiful audio glitches. As with many of our latest interviews, we have used Zoom and this time it was particularly glitchy. But, we’ve cleaned it up as best as possible and hopefully Ann’s stories and wisdom will be what you most remember of this delightful and encouraging conversation. 

 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

 

A Sacred Sorrow - Michael Card

    

SHOW SNIPPETS:

 

“I’ve seen God heal and I’ve seen God not heal. I’ve seen it both ways. But it’s the same Lord. And His grace has been there.”

“I had nobody telling me that before God I needed to acknowledge my sin and bow before Him.”

“That’s really the one thing (the story of her husband’s death) that I’m always happy to do even though it’s very difficult.”

“He (her late husband) went to sleep and his heart stopped.”

“I remember thinking ‘Has God for a second taken His eyes away from us?’”

“I knew that God is sovereign and that He is in control.”

“He has an eternal perspective on goodness and I can only see the human side of it.”

“The emergency room is no place to figure out your theology.”

“If I would peg my Christian walk on my circumstances then I would have a rollercoaster of a life of faith.”

 

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The Lydia Project: Conversations with Christian Women is a podcast co-hosted by Tori Walker and Taryn Hayes. It features informal chats with Christian women around faith, life, ministry and the ways in which God is shaping their thinking and their lives. The views of TLP guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts.