S3E3: When Nursing Class Hits Home

Lara is an Associate Director of Student Ministries for InterVarsity's Nurses Christian Fellowship. She lives in Jacksonville, FL with her husband, son, and two cats. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2012, she came on staff with InterVarsity as a campus minister and then area director in southeast Michigan before joining the NCF team. Her hobbies include indoor rock climbing, volleyball, crocheting, and hanging out at the beach.

I have been a part of NCF for many years as a faculty advisor, Texas volunteer leadership team, and then as a staff member. Upon retirement in 2016, I became a volunteer and currently I: Support the Texas Nurse Ministry Team that offers an annual weekend conference for nurses and students in East TX. Serve on the NCF Prayer Ministry Team that prays for requests from nurses and students who contact NCF. I respond to each person with prayer and Scripture and send their requests on to the team. Serve on the NCFI CANA Regional Committee (Caribbean and North American Region of NCFI) along with Kathy Schoonover-Shoffner and several NCF members. The NCFI CANA Committee meets regularly via Zoom to support the advancement of NCF in our region, especially in the Caribbean nations and to offer a regional conference every 4 years. I have a deep concern for nurses and students to know Jesus and follow Him with their whole lives and to be equipped to offer appropriate spiritual care. I’m so thankful for the many opportunities NCF has given me to share about the integration of Christian faith and nursing practice and how to have a deep, growing relationship with the Lord through Bible study, prayer and being in community. My husband, our little fuzzy dog, Phoebe, and I live in Central Texas and our daughter and her family live in West Texas. We love being outdoors and staying close to family and friends. Our church plays big part in our lives. I teach a woman’s Bible study, and I have served as a Stephen Ministry Leader since 2017. My leadership role has involved training Stephen Ministers, being a care provider, and serving as Supervision Peer Group Facilitator. God has used this ministry to teach to listen well and to encourage and affirm others through Scripture and prayer. The ministry requires care givers to trust God as the “cure-giver”, and the care giver to be the conduit of His grace, not a “fixer”. I wish I had had this training BEFORE I became a nurse! There is nothing better than seeing God work in others’ lives to save them, heal brokenness and bring wholeness in Him. To God Be the Glory!