Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah White.
Sarah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I attend Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and received my Master of Divinity from 2008 to 2012. My plan after seminary was to move overseas and serve in missions at a Christian boarding school, Black Forest Academy in Kandern Germany. I had always heard of the Lausanne Movement but was never involved like some of my classmates were.
Fast forward to my final year of seminary. I met my husband. We actually met while I was working in the Admissions Office for Gordon-Conwell. I helped run the “Discover Days” and he happened to attend one of those weekends. On the final day we always took the group of prospective students into Boston to walk the freedom trail. I feel to the back of the herd and started talking to this adorable southern boy about Boston, Europe and my burdened heart for the global church in Europe. He resonated with me. It was an innocent conversation and I didn’t think much more of it after it ended. (If you ask him, he had a completely different impression!). He started at the seminary a few months later which happened to be my final semester. I had already planned to apply to BFA in Germany and wanted nothing to hold me back. Steven (my husband) had much different plans. He pursued me and asked more questions and engaged with me about life, passions and future in a way no one else had (and still does to this day). We started dating and the rest of is history.
Fast forward a few more months. Steven quickly got involved with Lausanne and spent the remainder of his seminary time working with the movement, specifically under the former CEO, Doug Birdsall. It was a rich time for him learning and growing and understanding the global church. I had the perfect front row seat to the movement but still, was not involved directly. But, as most things go, when your significant other is invested, you become invested as well.
Fast forward to the summer after Steven graduated. We were married by that point and were headed to Black Forest Academy where Steven was going to teach. We also had just had a miscarriage. It was devastating. I had plans to be ‘busy’ and ‘nesting’ that year we had given to BFA but now I was headed overseas to a place I loved with no job, no role. It was devastating. And then, during our orientation for BFA, we received a call from a friend in Lausanne who had a job opening. He said it would be perfect for me and they wanted me to come work for them!
It was an answer to prayer. It was hope during this hard time. And it was something that would give me purpose again. I was in!
My first role within Lausanne was the Registrar for their Younger Leaders Gathering that took place in 2016. I was the direct point of contact for those who were invited. I handled visa questions, payment questions, hotel questions, transportation, culture, etc. It perfect. Detailed and globally orienting. I loved it. There were more than 1000 younger leaders from 140 countries present at this gathering in Jakarta, Indonesia.
From there, my role in Operations molded and reshaped to what it is today. I am the Director of Operational Support. I assist many of the teams within Lausanne and act as a liaison for smaller and larger gatherings. Currently, one of my larger projects is working with the core team for a forum that will take place in Manila, Philippines during June 2019 – The Global Workplace Forum.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say it’s been mostly smooth. There’s a lot of learning and maturing that has had to take place as my role has grown and been reshaped. Being married and with two girls has forced me to have some new perspective on how I handle everyday situations. I’m grateful for the slower pace they are providing at home and the way they teach me (daily) to just stop and be as a family.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I’m am the Director of Operational Support for the Lausanne Movement. Lausanne is an Evangelical Christian organization. The purpose of Lausanne is to connect leaders, influencers and ideas within the global Church for global mission.
My specific role is to assist a variety of teams within Lausanne with logistics, finances and database needs. I work with an incredible team within Operations to ensure that our systems and behind the scenes structures are in place and easily accessible to those who are helping influencers and ideas to connect.
We’re not a mission’s agency. We’re a movement which ebbs and flows and I feel allows us to adapt to the global church in a more natural way.
I think one of things I am most proud of is Younger Leaders 2016. It may be because I was directly involved but in all this gathering was a huge success. It was a place where the rising generation gathered together to connect, build relationships and be empowered in their specific areas of work. All while having handpicked mentors walking alongside of them pre and now post gathering to meet, encourage and guide as they navigate life, work and ministry. To see so many different nations represented was breathtaking. A glimpse of what heaven will be like for sure.
What were you like growing up?
I have an identical twin sister. We were very, very competitive. From grades to boyfriends to sports. In the moment, it was so frustrating but looking back, that competitiveness has made me who I am now. Life and accomplishments never came easy because I was always looking for a way to be better and to ‘beat out’ my sister. I was constantly thinking outside the box and taking any and every opportunity to grow so that I could be better than her! Ha! She was my best friend and still is my best friend. She lives in the Netherlands with her family and they are missionaries/church planters.
Interests were and still are – God, family and running. It sounds so basic but was and still is who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lausanne.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lausannemovement/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lausannemovement
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/lcwe
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/user/lausannemovement
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