Alumni Spotlight
Janine Maxwell '85
Major: Communications
Minors: Government, Biblical Studies
In 1982 Janine Willis left the comfort of her cold and snowy home in Northern Ontario, Canada and headed south to the warmth of the mid-west to join the Evangel College family. After 3 years in Burgess Hall she graduated cum laude with a major in Communications and a minor in Bible and American Government. A Canadian studying American Government? That seemed a bit odd … but that was Janine.
Janine graduated in 1985 and moved back to Canada and began her journey to success by founding and building one of the largest marketing companies in Canada that boasted a blue chip client list including: Kellogg Canada, Inc, Disney (Buena Vista Home Entertainment), Kraft Canada, The Gillette Company, and Campbell Soup Company. In 1991 she married Ian Maxwell. They became proud parents of Spencer in 1994 and Chloe in 1996.
Then on September 11, 2001 the world changed, even for our Canadian alumni friend when she found herself trapped in New York City when all transportation in and out of the city stopped, knowing that her husband was on an airplane to Chicago. Both of them had to fight their way home to their family in Canada, but life as they knew it would never be the same. God had begun a new work.
The world-changing events of that day became the catalyst that first sent Janine into a deep depression and later to the darkest parts of Africa in her search for the meaning of life. What happened next was a roller coaster ride from the board room to the streets of Africa where she found herself standing face to face with the AIDS pandemic and trying to understand what to do with 15 million orphans who are left in its wake. After 16 years of business the Lord clearly told Janine to close her business and wait … wait for Him and His direction. One year later Ian and Janine took over Dream for Africa, a ministry founded by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson, leading 3,500+ volunteers to serve on short term missions teams to Africa. The Maxwells now work in full-time ministry leading Heart for Africa (newly named), a faith-based humanitarian organization that focuses on bringing hope to people in Africa in the areas of Hunger, Orphan, Poverty and Education.
On December 1, 2006 (World AIDS day) Janine published her first book called It’s Not Okay with Me. Her story is brutally honest and will take you straight to the heart of the issue of Africa’s great need. The book provides truth and insights into Africa in a way that is fresh and filled with hope. Even the most seasoned African traveler will have their eyes opened again. The truth is that there is hope in a place that seems hopeless. All we need to do is say, “It’s not okay with me, either” and then act.
Janine has now moved back to the US and is living in Alpharetta, Georgia with her family. Weekends find Janine speaking truth about the situation in Africa to churches from coast to coast, but she is happiest when sitting under a tree visiting with a group of HIV positive women in Malawi or working at an orphanage in Swaziland or Kenya.
Of her Evangel experience Janine says, "Although I moved back to Canada after graduating I have kept in contact with a few friends who have been pivotal in my life since then. The Mainse family, in particular, have been beside me at each turning point since leaving Evangel. Ron and Ann were there from the start of my company and stood with me through the closing of it. Reynold and Kathy are the ones who took me in to the real heart of Africa which transformed my life. I have now even reconnected with Dr. Barry Corey (after the Doug/Ernie/Janine/Kent team lost the student body election to Barry and his ticket!). Now I know why we lost - he really was smarter than us."
For more information about Heart for Africa go to www.heartforafrica.org. For information on Janine’s book go to www.itsnotokaywithme.com and see if it is okay with you.