Jana Hennelova is a doctoral student at King's College London with a heart for leading others to greater maturity in Christ.
When did you trust Christ?
I grew up in a Christian family in Slovakia, where we regularly attended the Apostolic church in Kosice. From a very early age, I was raised to believe in Jesus Christ and made a decision to follow him at the age of 12 during a youth camp. I was baptised at the age of 15.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
My parents were crucial in my life, having always encouraged me to go to church, read the Bible, and pray. As a teenager I accepted Christ as my Saviour and was filled by the Holy Spirit. After I moved to Edinburgh at 19, the Life church pastor and his wife were influential in helping me grow in Christ. However, the biggest growth in my faith happened after I joined TCCL in London. God is calling me to help Christian students become more mature in Christ, and I have developed a great compassion for people as a result of difficulties in my life. Having type 1 diabetes, then losing my father at the age of 10, often made me doubt my faith in Jesus when I was younger. However, God has used these challenges to help me develop empathy for others.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I believe that attending ELF will greatly help me grow in my faith and provide helpful resources for my ministry. I would like to further develop my discipleship skills and learn how to talk openly about my faith to non-Christians. I am looking forward to meeting others who love Jesus and making lifelong friendships.
What is your ministry?
As a student at King's College London, I am continuing my worship ministry in TCCL. I am a leader of the Graduate Christian Fellowship, leading Sunday morning sessions (e.g. on worship), managing social media, and keeping in touch with members. I am hoping to take on a leadership role in discipling our members.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
In Life Church in Edinburgh, I played piano on the worship team.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
My ministry is a very important part of my life, and I have a great desire to become a better leader through training. Currently, I am a volunteer with Graduate Christian Fellowship, a young non-profit organisation. I feel passionate about using resources to help GCF members pursue their studies in London.
