Jana Layman

FAITH JOURNEY

How did you come to know Christ? I was born and raised in a Christian home, going to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I watched and helped my mother teach children’s classes and children’s church from a very early age through my teens. I put on Christ as my savior when I was 13. At a young age, seeing that life was not picture perfect, I prayed and saw that God really would answer prayers and change lives.

Why do you follow and put your faith in Him? To answer this question I always think of the time many of Jesus’ disciples were leaving him, and he asked Peter and others, “What about you, will you leave too?” And Peter answered, “Where else would we go?” I have seen enough of life to know that there is no other answer for sin, sickness, hurting and unrest except for Jesus. He is the only place to find perfect peace.

How has Christ changed your life? Christ has changed my life in so many ways on my faith journey, and I pray that I always stay close enough to him that He will continue to change all of my sinful and selfish ways. One way he continually changes me is to remind me that the world does not revolve around me, and that I was created to serve Him, not vise versa.

What have been your greatest struggles being a disciple of Christ? One of my greatest struggles as a disciple of Christ in the past was infertility. I could not understand why God would not answer my prayer as he answered Hannah’s and others in the Bible. I did not understand until He answered, His way through adoption. It took walking through that pain, to realize that His plans are not always like my plans, but His plans are always better!

Today, I believe my biggest struggle as His disciple is relying on Him as I should. At times I doubt and shrink back from serving Him boldly. I know He can do Great and Mighty works… even through me, “IF” I stay close to Him.

What builds your faith and gives you hope? God’s word builds my faith and gives me hope like nothing else. When I become afraid because of all that life throws at me, I know I need to go and read about God’s truth, love, and promises, and to see time and time again how He worked in His peoples lives, to remind me that He is still working!

MINISTRY AND CHURCH

How would you describe your “calling”? I would describe my calling as often surprising. God has called me in many areas that I did not expect. My passion in my twenties became God’s Word, because of a very special older woman who agreed to have a Bible study for myself and several friends. For many years I had a great passion to share His word through teaching adults, so I was surprised and a little reluctant when He called me to Home school my oldest daughter. I believe my home was blessed by that for several years, so I was also surprised when, I believe, He called me to put her back into school. I was equally surprised when He called me to employment in ministry to teaching children. Yet, looking back at my life, from the very beginning, I can see how God has been preparing and molding me for this very job…

What is your primary area(s) of ministry and how has God equipped you to serve?  And so, my primary area of ministry is to teach children about God’s awesome love. As I survey my life I see several times over how He has equipped me for this. From watching my mother teach, by being blessed by many great Bible teachers, by teaching in children’s classes practically every year of my life since Jr. High. God blessed me with Gary and Lee Anne Robbins and starting TeamKid with them many years ago. He has stretched me by bringing me into our COA tutoring program, where I am privileged to teach kids who have not grown up in church, and know very little about. He also equipped me for this through my Graphics Arts Degree from ACU. I am all about making Bible learning very visual, interactive and fun. Most importantly God has given me a passion to share what I know about Him, that He is always working. He is not just a God of the past, He is still in the life changing business. I want our kids to have their eyes open to what God is doing today!

How do you see God working within Clear Lake Church of Christ?  I have seen God working through Clear Lake Church, by continually stretching our view of Him. When we have been faithful in relying on Him, He has stretched our view of meaningful praise and worship. He has stretched us to go back and study for ourselves instead of relying on tradition. He has stretched us in courage as we have rethought, to worry more about what He thinks of us, rather than what men may think of us. I believe He has stretched us to be a place of healing to many who have been hurt by churches in the past. He has stretched us to trust Him to provide through many a meager time. And He has stretched us to take the church outside our four walls. To join hands with other faithful churches, even outside of our own denomination to serve the hurting of our community. He has so blessed us with unity and “the bigger picture of His church!” My prayer is that we will continue to allow God to stretch us, even if it is painful, all for His mighty glory!

PERSONAL

Tell us about your family. I’ve no greater blessing on earth than my husband David. He has a wonderful heart for God and I am so blessed by His spiritual leadership and his love for our family. David has been our very talented and passionate worship minister and is now our very able church administrator. I can not imagine my life with out the blessings of our sweet daughters, Krista who is thirteen, and Kara who is seven. Hopefully, my reality in struggling to be a good mom, with all its’ unique adventures, helps me to relate to our families in the same battle to raise kids to know the truth from so many lies. I have a love, hate relationship with our sweet but stinky lab, Buddy.

What are your hobbies and interests? One blessing of “Buddy”, is that someone has to walk him daily. When I make myself go, I love it! Not only do I get my excersize, but this is where I love to pray. Other favorite hobbies are playing Wii and going to movies with David and the girls.

What is your education and work background? I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from ACU. I’ve worked several years as a graphics artist, and many years as a busy mom.