Chrissie - United Kingdom

Nickname: Lynn

I first accepted the Lord Jesus as my Saviour at the age of 12. My parents had both been Sunday School teachers, so I had been brought up hearing all the Bible stories; but it was not until I went away to boarding school to study ballet more seriously, that I became homesick and started to recognise that my faith had depended on my parents' input.

Our Anglican chaplain was good at explaining about sin and forgiveness to children, and so at the age of 12, after a brief illness, I asked to be confirmed. Some of my school friends were also confirmed at the same time, but for them it was just a traditional thing to do. Whereas for me, I wanted to be serious with God. From that point on I began to be teased at school because of my faith, since I enjoyed attending the compulsory chapel services, and understood the Religious Education lessons (even though I failed the exam!).

Studying in a Christian school, I did not question whether it was possible to work in the theatre and ballet world and be a Christian, but when I left school at 17 and started auditioning for companies, I began to be more aware of the issues. I did not want to spend my life recounting fairy stories or participating in erotic love scenes.

I then attended a Cliff Richard concert and then a Billy Graham rally where I was challenged to let Jesus be Lord of my life and to serve Him full time. I chose to give up my career (which was not very successful anyway), and I went back to college and became a secretary at Tear Fund. It was while working there that I learned about the wider world.

After some years working in the Middle East, Asia and Africa for various missions including YWAM, International Christian Ministries and WEC International, I am now based in Lancashire where my remit includes research and the image library for Wellspring Media, which is the media arm of WEC in the United Kingdom.

I count it a privilege to also be able to travel to countries interviewing missionaries, and attempting to capture various and interesting cultures, living conditions and the environment, and to help our mission communicate the needs and challengings that the church worldwide faces today.