1. How did you become a Christian?
I was a zealous atheist in my early teens, but I started going to church because I liked a boy! I wasn’t looking for Jesus, but I had a strange and powerful encounter with Him that was completely unexpected, and left me feeling like there was no choice but to acknowledge there is a God. However, not one to be easily persuaded, I then spent two months reading the Bible before finally relenting, repenting, and asking Jesus to be my Lord.
2. What lessons have you learnt since that you would want to pass on to a younger Christian version of yourself?
God is merciful all the time. He is good all the time. He wastes nothing. He is at work in everything, and He is working it all for your good. He loves you. He really LOVES you! You bring Him joy – so much joy that He sings over you! He is more patient that you know, more tender-hearted towards you than you hope, and more merciful to you than you can imagine.
3. How would you describe your prayer life?
Intense. In my first year as a Christian, I prayed a lot, but out of legalism. After that, I struggled to have a consistent prayer life for 27 years. But in the last three years I have drastically changed my morning routine and now my prayer life is consistent, joy-filled, fervent, often with tears of gratitude. (But also still a bit distracted and unfocused and interrupted by my phone!)
4. Which two or three Christian books apart from the Bible have most influenced your faith?
The Silent Shades of Sorrow (a collection of Spurgeon talks) has brought healing to my heart each time I’ve read it, and helped me to understand the tenderness of Jesus. Similarly, Streams in the Desert, a daily devotional by L. B. Cowman, has walked me through some valleys. I’m not sure if I’m allowed to include this, but my own book, ’Tis Mercy All, had a massive impact on me as I wrote it, bringing a new depth of intimacy with Jesus.
5. Who or what have been your biggest Christian influences?
Paul Mann, my senior pastor, has been a huge influence on me, giving me leadership opportunities when I was an unlikely leader, but also in how he has modelled kindness and patience in leadership, and faithfulness and obedience to God. Joanna Mutu, one of my closest friends, has modelled what it looks like to adore Jesus. Another friend, Liz Pursglove, has modelled faithful friendship to me. Angela Kemm, Martin Charlesworth, Pete & Sue Lyndon, old friends N and F, and many others, have influenced me profoundly.
6. What are the main challenges you believe Christians face today?
Jesus called His disciples to be merciful, just as our Father is merciful (Luke 6:36). The world around us is deeply polarised, embraces cancel culture, and celebrates judgment triumphing over mercy. We are called to be distinctively different, to show mercy like God shows mercy, yet often we look no different to the world around us. I think that addressing this, and cultivating attitudes and actions of mercy, would go a long way to addressing many of the challenges facing Christians today.
7. What encourages and what discourages you?
I’m often discouraged by how slow change is – in myself, in the church, and in the world around me. But the flipside to that is that I’m really encouraged when I remember that God is growing me into an ‘oak of righteousness’ (Isa. 61:4) and oaks grow very, very slowly – even the fastest growing oaks take 20 years to mature. The purpose of that growth is to bring Him glory and renew, rebuild and restore others, which is exciting.
8. What makes you laugh?
I have one particular friend, Meesh, who makes me laugh all the time. I also laugh at myself a lot – I recently got lost inside a hotel and couldn’t find my way out. I was on the phone to one of the Jubilee+ team at the time, and she was amused that I can speak in front of big crowds and write books, but am ditzy in so many ways.
9. What would you want to say to the wider evangelical world?
Revival so often starts with the poorest. It doesn’t usually trickle down from high places and elite spaces. Yet not many of us are valuing and investing our time and energy in those on the lowest incomes and/or on the margins. Being a people who are merciful, just like our Father is merciful, requires us to value and be friends with the people Jesus spent His time with. ‘Social action’ or ‘mercy ministries’ mustn’t just become a department of church life: generosity, compassion, mercy, kindness, welcome, justice – these are discipleship issues for every follower of Christ to be growing in as we become more like Him.
10. Which Biblical person (other than Jesus) do you most look forward to meeting in glory and why?
Anna the prophetess, an incredible woman who worshipped, prayed and fasted in the temple day and night (Luke 2:36-38). To me, she’s an inspiring example of someone who pursued the ‘undivided devotion to the Lord’ that the apostle Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 7, single people can have.
Natalie Williams is chief executive of the Christian charity Jubilee+ and author of ‘Tis Mercy All (SPCK/Form, 2024).
