A Journey of Faith, Leadership, and Connection
My name is Jessica Louwrens and I am a business professional, wife and mum who lives in Johannesburg in the Sandton area of Gauteng. I have been involved with the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ since the age of 19 when I was at the University of Durban-Westville. For a brief period, I was a full-time staff member and thereafter served as a volunteer in the Campus ministry. My husband and I remained involved with ministry and connected with people in the organisation worldwide. At some point we each served on the Board of Directors of CCC SA, and since we left those positions have become involved in the ministry of Leader Impact South Africa.
A Journey with Campus Crusade for Christ
Currently I serve as the national team leader while still working full time in my secular business. This is both a challenging and rewarding role to have. I, together with my team, have the task of engaging with market place leaders, first challenging them to be leaders of impact in the workplace and then walking the road with them as they navigate life and work doing this. It is always inspiring and also quite motivating to engage with people who are highly intellectual, competitive and leaders who are usually so time strapped, yet so much in need of support and encouragement to live their Christian principles in the workplace in a way that are contextually relevant and respectful of everyone in their environment.
Needless to say, this makes the traditional sharing of the 4 Spiritual Laws quite difficult. A completely different process from randomly approaching a student and striking up a conversation in the University halls and cafeterias. However, there is still much testimony to be shared regarding success in this kind of environment.
Meeting Marketplace Leaders Where They Are
In this week after months of telephone conversations, in person meetings and time scheduling and synchronising attempts I finally managed to have my first meeting with a group of female business professionals. We met online as not all in the group are in Johannesburg or even in South Africa.
The course that we are doing together is the Soaring course which is done in 8 or 9 weeks. Now what makes this group so different is that the ladies in the group are firstly from all over Southern Africa. Secondly, they are all top-level leaders in their companies and professional fields. I find myself in the midst of amazing talent and brainpower. Lastly and most importantly they are all Christian and wanting to learn how to be women of Christian impact.
Our first meeting was a mountain of encouragement for me this week. There is one person from Zimbabwe and another in Botswana and after this course these ladies will be ready to continue working with the leader Impact leaders in their countries while still maintaining our connections here. This is also a major step towards my recruitment for the Africa Lab of Leader Impact which is scheduled to take place from 9 to 12 October 2025 in Cape Town.
Walking This Journey Together
Please continue to pray for this group that I have affectionately called Ladies of Impact. Pray that I am able to walk closely with these women who are as diverse as their names and hometowns are, yet are linked already so tightly by this one purpose now. The course that we are doing together will help them learn a bit more about themselves and also see how they can become the best version of themselves as God guides them.
With much love
Jess
Jessica Louwrens
Leader Impact - National Team Leader