Born in 1943, daughter of a Seventh Day Adventist minister, and committed from a very early age to doing God's will, Jan began her journey in a Christian context. After graduating from Auckland University in 1965, she spent the first twenty-three years of her professional life as a high school teacher, before setting up in private practice in 1987. During these years she studied eastern philosophy and spiritual practice, and taught yoga as a spiritual-physical discipline.
By the mid 1980's she became aware of needing to bring together the unique riches of East and West. Since then she has written, mentored and been involved in intense discipleship training for individuals and groups. For details of Jan's professional training, experience and wide-ranging current activities see Our Work and Books.
Bruce Puddle
LTh
Bruce was born in 1948, the son of a Baptist minister. After graduating from Baptist Theological College in 1975, he spent twelve years in pastoral ministry in two churches. He was one of a number of young ministers who spearheaded the rise and eventual acceptance of the charismatic movement throughout the Baptist churches of New Zealand.
Since 1988 Bruce has been in secular employment in Tauranga and is currently involved in bridge building between Christianity and complementary spirituality. He has recently authored books on the broadness of salvation and on aspects of sacred sexuality. For details, see Books.
Our Partnership
A husband and wife team, Jan's and Bruce's partnership is five years old. While our backgrounds were similar, the very different paths we trod during our middle years meant that the early months of our coming together were filled with vigorous discussions. These were rendered non-threatening by the clarity we each reached regarding our personal 'untradeable' core beliefs, and a mutual commitment to be respectful of and open to each other's views while not attempting to 'convert' one another.
This has meant modelling as a couple the 'way of radical humility' which every tradition is now being called to. It is a humility which fosters the alert mind and open heart that can say to another spiritual path, 'I need to listen to you, for there are in your tradition, as in mine, clear veins of Divine truth which, shared, draw all of us closer to God and to a more powerful externalising of the Kingdom of God.' Ours has been a complementary coming together which has deeply challenged and enriched us, both as individuals and as a serving team committed to doing God's will in the world.