Faith That Transforms Work

Ministry doesn’t only happen behind a pulpit or within church walls. Sometimes it looks like quiet conversations with colleagues, walking alongside a friend in crisis, or approaching your daily work with a heart shaped by the gospel. For Léni-Jo McMillan, the journey hasn’t been about choosing between work and ministry—but learning how to bring the good news of Jesus into every space she’s in.

Léni-Jo grew up in Perth, but she didn’t grow up going to church. Faith in Jesus wasn’t something she knew about growing up—it was something she discovered during her university years while studying engineering.

After graduating, she began working as an engineer for a number of years, but her passion for knowing and sharing Jesus never took a back seat. Over time, that desire grew and she became increasingly involved in lay ministry in her local church. While living in Sydney for a number of years with her husband, Léni-Jo found herself hungry to be better equipped for ministry conversations—so she enrolled in part-time theological study at Mary Andrews College.

Eventually, a move back to Perth in 2009 opened up new opportunities. In 2011 Léni-Jo transferred her studies to Trinity Theological College, where she went on to complete a Bachelor of Theology part-time. Around the same time, she began working part-time with City Bible Forum. She’s been there ever since.

Léni-Jo uses her theological training every day as she walks alongside both Christians as well as people exploring faith. Whether it’s answering tough questions, opening the Bible with someone, or encouraging Christians to speak up at work, she’s deeply thankful for the foundation her time at Trinity has given her.

On a lighter note, Léni-Jo appreciated the lecturers with their sense of humour.

“It was this really clever, dry sense of humour, and I’d be doing quiet snickers,” she laughs.

More seriously, Léni-Jo is grateful for the way the lecturers cared for their students, and their passion for the gospel and the Bible. She appreciated being able to glean from their wisdom and experience. And she can see how her time at Trinity has equipped her in her role at City Bible Forum.

“I find when I’m answering questions it’s so helpful to draw on biblical theology, because obviously a biblical theology of work is a key part of what we do,” she explains. “But there’s also an aspect of bringing the Bible to bear on people’s lives, so I’ll listen to people pastorally, but then bring the Bible out and apply the Bible to that situation. Being able to apply Scripture correctly and not take it out of context is really key.”

Léni-Jo believes that  Trinity is a vital part of the Western Australian gospel ecosystem, and she’s still actively involved in College life even now, years after she graduated.

For Léni-Jo, there’s no hard line between ministry and ‘work’ because in God’s eyes, it all matters. Whether you’re serving in a church, sitting at a desk, managing a household, or studying for exams, God is at work in and through you. 

“God values work,” she says, “and God values you and your work and what you are doing at work and how he’s using you there.”

It’s a reminder we all need: the workplace doesn’t need to be a pause on ministry; it can be a platform for it. And for those wanting to think more deeply about how faith shapes all of life—from Monday to Saturday—Léni-Jo says studying at Trinity was a key part of that journey. It equipped her not just for formal ministry, but to see every area of life as a place where God is at work.

Please pray for Léni-Jo as she continues to ask God to grow the City Bible Forum team in Perth. Pray that Christ’s love would shine through her, especially in her ministry, in the way she and her husband serve their church (where he is an elder), and among her friends who aren’t saved yet.