Part of a series ‘Voices of Volunteers from Around Australia’.
Sarah Kuswadi: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the volunteering that you are involved in?
Roz Zani: I am married to Brendan and we have two young children. We live in a beautiful, leafy corner of Perth and are part of Providence City Church, which we have called home since 2014. I’d love to have a cool claim to fame, but really I peaked when I broke the record at my primary school for the egg and spoon race when I was eight years old! I also love to sew and I try to fit that in wherever I can. I think my current backlog of projects means that I’m sorted for the next three to five years—I won’t be getting bored any time soon.
During the week, I work for a school in risk management and compliance. I work collaboratively across the school to bring the safety and wellbeing of the students, staff and visitors to the fore, by establishing and implementing policies and procedures. I ensure the school meets its legal and regulatory obligations.
I currently volunteer in two ways at Providence: as a member of the Providence Church Network Risk Sub-Committee (RSC) and as a Kids Church teacher.
Why did you get involved in volunteering in this way and what have you found encouraging from volunteering here?
I was invited to join the RSC due to my background in law and my professional experience (I think they also heard I make a mean sticky date pudding). The Risk Sub-Committee is part of Providence Church Network’s Committee of Management. The Network is currently made up of three separate churches and the role of the RSC is to plan and manage the risk, safety and compliance needs of the entire network. A systematic approach to identifying the potential issues and opportunities for which we are responsible is important.
I saw the opportunity my church has, given the types of programs and events we run, to be salt and light both in our church and the wider community. When we work to minimise risk and make our church activities accessible and safe for people of all abilities, we afford others dignity. By doing these things well, there’s never the question in anyone’s mind about whether church is a safe, welcoming place. My hope is that this would also leave more mental and emotional space to consider the truth of gospel.
There are so many small children at our church and few adults in a position to teach. I helped establish the creche when my children were really little. Now they’re a bit older I’ve graduated from creche to teaching the pre-primary class. I’m goofy, I love craft and I already knew all the lyrics to Colin Buchanan’s songs, so it was an easy fit. Teaching children is an immense privilege; I’m sure it has taught me so much more than I have taught them!
What is your background and what is something that’s unusual about that?
I grew up as a pastor’s kid in a small church without its own building. My dad worked full time as an engineer while pastoring the church—he just had the capacity to serve in that way. He would spend his evenings meeting with people from the church, hosting Bible studies, reading and preparing sermons. Mum was always serving somewhere: Sunday School, morning tea roster, hosting Bible Study… anything and everything that was needed. They have always been exceptionally generous with their time. As I got older, serving at church for me was an organic process of “see the need, meet the need”.
Having seen my parents serve like that laid the foundation for how I serve today. Day-to-day work and family life certainly fills up a lot of my week; how we serve shifts and changes with each new season of life. But it’s always anchored around these questions: where do we see needs in the church? Can we do anything towards meeting them? I want my children to know the joy and privilege of building up God’s people; to be observant, take initiative, develop deep empathy for others, and be discerning and kind for God’s glory.
My hope is to show a variety of ways Christians volunteer around Australia. What would you want to share with others about how volunteering has changed your life?
For me, volunteering at church has offered different things at different times. It’s rarely the things I think I need, and always the challenge God wants me to face. It’s offered community when I’ve been lonely and creativity when I’ve needed an outlet. It has pushed me to dive deeper into Bible truths when I’ve yearned for encouragement. It has pushed me outside of myself, taught me patience, hospitality and given me my fair share of reasons to laugh at myself.
In every season it forces me to lift my eyes to God, to consider the vastness of his goodness and stand in awe. Ultimately, when God is at the heart of my service, volunteering for his glory cannot help but shape me to be a little more compassionate, kind and joyful.
Can you tell us about some things that you have learnt recently in your volunteering role?
I’m finding a profound gratitude for the community of believers God has built. Through both my volunteering roles I get to see deeper into what makes my church tick. I am so grateful for the people God has raised up to serve, lead and teach, and the humility with which they offer their time and resources.
I’ve also learned so much about communication and other skills I never knew I needed; I can now build almost anything out of a paper plate and sticky tape!
Is there a Bible verse that you often come back to for encouragement?
Philippians chapter 2 verses 5 to 8:
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Every time I read it, I am struck by the sheer magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
