Jillian Nielsen: teacher, volunteer, mentor, Bible study leader

Meet Jillian. By day she is music teacher at Urban Concern’s Harambee Christian School. But her work doesn’t stop there.

Throughout the week, Jillian can be found volunteering much of her time mentoring, leading a girl’s small group Bible study at Harambee, and helping to oversee Lighthouse – Harambee’s new youth Bible study which meets on Sundays.

Here’s Jillian’s take on her time at Urban Concern, in her own words:

“While studying at OSU to be a music teacher, I realized that I wanted to work in urban schools… through God’s sovereignty the position to teach music for Harambee opened up. I felt God’s leading and applied for the job. Since being hired, I have felt an immense burden for the students and helping them have a relationship with God.

As soon as I started teaching the students at Harambee, I knew that I was going to want to spend more time with the students and to build relationships with them. Luckily, God knew how to take care of that! I feel that the students have taught me to truly rely on God’s strength and wisdom as opposed to relying on myself. I also felt the burden to live closer to the students so that I might serve them better, and God blessed my husband and I with the best place to do that!”

For those thinking about getting involved at Urban Concern, Jillian has this advice:

“For those who want to serve, but feel that it might be hard, all I can say is that it is hard. But that’s also why you should do it! God has shown me that nothing is too difficult for Him and that He put me here to do His work. You don’t have to worry about the difficulties because God is taking care of everything, and we just have to be willing to do the work, even if it’s hard. Once you get past the first hurdle of showing up, the rest is just fun because you’re building into something eternal.”

Jillian and her husband live in the South Linden community.

Thanks for all you do, Jillian!

If you want to make a difference in the lives of our students and families like Jillian, email Michael about how YOU can get plugged in as a volunteer.