Janet Colyer

Janet Colyer’s journey to serving at World Gospel Mission headquarters didn’t take her around the world—just up the road from her hometown of Gas City, Indiana.

Born and raised in Gas City, Janet found hope and meaning in a small church as a young girl. “When I was about 10, my parents both worked. I lived about a block from a little church and started going there on my own.” She became a believer there, and the church provided structure and support that her home often lacked.

Janet married her high school sweetheart, Russ, and settled down to raise a family on their farm just outside town. They had two sons and a daughter, and all live nearby. In the 1970s, after the children had grown up, Janet started working as a teacher’s aide at a local elementary school. She loved the children but decided she needed a job that would provide more stability. She took classes at a local business college and applied for a position in accounting at WGM in 1985.

Janet worked in the Financial Services Department for five years, where she processed donations and receipted supporters. Later, she served as a secretary in the Church Ministries Department. She sent missionaries’ publicity to churches, helped missionaries schedule meetings with churches, and assisted with missionary training events at headquarters.

She officially retired in 2002 but later returned to fill in at her old job as needed for years afterward. Her sweet spirit and willingness to serve made her a beloved member of the WGM support staff.

“I enjoyed everything I did there. I loved doing it, and I still get together with WGM folks. WGM is just like a family to me.”

Janet and Russ were married for 61 years before he passed away in December 2014. (Her advice for marriage longevity? No arguing with each other, especially in front of family.) Janet has seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren and is an active member of Eastview Wesleyan Church in Gas City.

During times of uncertainty, Janet turns to the Psalms for comfort. “I don’t know what the future is going to bring. We just take one day at a time. I get into the Psalms and start reading, and it helps.”