Jen Carlson
Crisis Care & Prayer Director
Jen Carlson was born and raised in rural Minnesota. She graduated from Wheaton College and then went on to get her nursing degree at Rush University in Chicago. She was working as a PICU nurse when the Lord called her to full-time ministry as the Director of Women’s & Children’s ministries at Harvest Community Church in Hoffman Estates, IL. Since 2001 Jen was active in developing these ministries and playing a supportive role on the pastoral staff team, but God was also shaping and deepening her heart for urban ministry.
In 2006, Jen began volunteering with GRIP as a prayer intercessor for SLAM. Through God’s leading, Jen joined the GRIP staff in December 2006 as the Administrative Director. Her passion is to see women grow in relationship with Jesus (discovering their unique role in His Kingdom and Body), intercessory prayer, and to support the vision God has given us at GRIP to reach at-risk youth and grow them up as fully devoted followers of Christ.
Getting to know Jen
Role at GRIP: Crisis Care & Prayer Director
Email: jenc@gripyouth.com
Hometown: Moose Lake, MN
Church: New Life Covenant, Humboldt Park
Fondest Memory: Many memories from Wheaton College – the week of the Revivals (Spring ‘95) were especially powerful
Proudest Moment: My last days with Harvest Community Church and seeing God move among the women there
Biggest Challenge: Keeping my mind/heart present to Jesus and His voice
Perfect Day: Waking early to spend time with Jesus, going for a walk/bike ride in a forest preserve, enjoying a really great cup of coffee with friend(s) or while reading a good book, then having guests over for dinner and fellowship in the evening
First Job: Little League girls softball coach/umpire
Favorite Food: Watermelon, followed closely by Korean or Japanese
Favorite Movie: Anne of Green Gables
Favorite Song: "Mighty to Save" or "How Great is Our God"
Favorite Spot: To be kept a secret, so somebody else doesn’t take it!
Inspiration: Too many to name
Favorite Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21,
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
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