Chased by Grace
After hearing Genevieve McKinnon’s life story over a cup of coffee, my first thought was “How am I going to condense this amazing life into one page?” Well, here goes…
Genevieve left home at sixteen as a rebellious teenager, living the wild life with her boyfriend, Tim. They hung out with other musicians and ran a music studio in the inner city. When the studio went broke, they packed up their few possessions and left Sydney to grow marijuana in far north Queensland. This was about as far away from anywhere as you could get. There was no electricity, no power and they lived in a twelve by twelve tent. Life was a primitive kind of paradise. Tim would head off by day in search of suitable places to grow the crop, leaving Genevieve alone and isolated from most people except for the other alternative outcasts who lived in the area. She spent her time evaluating her life and growing increasingly depressed and miserable. Tim confirmed Genevieve’s state of mind, exclaiming one day “I can’t make you happy!” Genevieve knew that she was living the life she had chosen and should be happy, yet she was desperately sad.
Then the unexpected happened. A Baptist lady called Di Cummins walked into the camp and invited Genevieve to a Bible study she was starting for women in the community. She must have been somewhat shocked by the half naked, sarong clad hippies of the camp, but she didn’t miss a beat! Genevieve readily saw that Di had a hope that she lacked, but she shut the door and denied God, declaring “I don’t believe in God!”
A little later Tim met an old drummer friend of his in town and Genevieve became friendly with his wife, Cheryl, who was a Christian. By this time Genevieve was on the verge of a mental breakdown and clearly remembers standing on the edge of a black void in her confused mind. “If I let myself go over the edge, that will be it” she thought. In desperation, she called out to God for help and the voices left her.
Cheryl talked with Genevieve about sin and God’s offer of forgiveness and salvation. In a flash of clarity, Genevieve realized “ I’ve hurt God” and sorrow and grief overtook her. But through the tears, she felt God’s love, healing and forgiveness in an overwhelming and real way. Genevieve had found the truth she had been searching for and continued going to the Bible study led by Di. She was convicted to radically change her life, stop taking drugs and even baptized herself in a nearby river!
A further shock came when Genevieve discovered she was pregnant and she was faced with a test of her new found faith. She chose to keep Jesus and her baby. Tim was saved two months later. So, seven months pregnant Genevieve and Tim attended a Christian conference with Di in Cairns, where Genevieve was once again challenged about her lifestyle and Godly relationships. Her baby, Colin, was born soon after and about ten months later Tim and Genevieve were married.
Tim heard that there was good fishing to be had in Geraldton, Western Australia, so they all headed west, lived in a tent and fished for the next six months! One day they were given a flyer advertising a Christian concert at a church called the Potter’s House which was to become their church home for the next thirteen years. It was here that they learnt about the five foundations: Bible, Church, prayer, giving and serving. They both became committed to serving God in the band, youth group and many other ways. Tristan and Alana were also born in Geraldton during this time.
In 1999, the family returned to Sydney and Tim joined an IT company which awarded him a contract to work in Japan for two years, while Genevieve and the kids stayed in Sydney. Genevieve attended Christian City Church, where she joined a three week medical team to Halmahera Island Indonesia. This experience greatly challenged and inspired her and she felt called to further her qualifications in nursing. So in 2002 Genevieve started full time nurse training whilst caring for two teenage boys and Alana who was then five years old!
Genevieve joined Pittwater Uniting Church (PUC) in 2007 and despite being very busy with her studies, work and family, worships at the 10am service whenever possible. She loves hearing the word of God preached at PUC and is rebuilding her confidence in hearing God’s voice for herself. As someone who has been very active in church, particularly during her time in Geraldton, she has been challenged to follow God’s call on her life to study and simply “sit at God’s feet and know God, not be busy doing”.
As I reflected on Genevieve’s amazing journey from hippy to church leader to future aid worker I asked her what message she would like to leave with the women of Pittwater Uniting. Without hesitation she replies “Know God and you will know yourself and where you are going. Fall in love with Jesus”. Sounds like a fitting ending to an incredible life story!
