My primary aim and prayer for this site are to encourage discouraged and defeated believers and to bring them the revelation that will lead to transformed lives.
I am an American, living with my Malaysian husband, in the state of Sabah—on the Island of Borneo, E. Malaysia—where I do Bible teaching, Christian counseling and discipleship. I have a liberal arts degree in Spanish from the University of Valparaiso in Indiana; and a Masters in Biblical Studies from the Center for Advanced Biblical Studies, Dallas, Texas.
I have been affiliated with ‘Abiding Life Ministries International’ since approximately 2001, having gone through their training in Malaysia, Australia, and Africa. I have taught the Abiding Life conference materials in various places in Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, East & West Malaysia, and also in the U.S.
I am a ‘gypsy’ at heart, who wants nothing more than to change peoples’ lives for Jesus. This passion includes sharing how to:
- practically abide in Christ,
- see God in everything; the good, bad and the ugly ~~ and to
- count events “all joy” in our lives—no matter what our circumstances.
My father was a U.S. Naval officer and flier, so I (and 4 siblings) grew up as ‘navy brats’—predominately in So. California, and Florida. Every two years we moved. This may account for the ‘gypsy blood’ coursing thru my veins.
My love for languages and my liberal arts degree in Spanish led me to spend a summer in Mexico City while in college. It was then I developed a passion for Mexico and all things ‘Latino.’ To me, a day in Mexico City was not only a wild, Disneyland-type of adventure but held the exciting challenge of ‘would I survive this day intact?’
Though growing up a ‘nominal believer’ in the Lutheran church, I was eventually led away from nominal Christianity—into the New Age movement—mega-attracted to the belief that ‘I could control my own destiny:’ i.e., get over my chronic depression, my eating disorder, and eventually reach my full potential as a ‘god’ (or ‘goddess’).
It was during a profoundly naïve trip to South America (on my own), that the Lord unraveled my life, my deception, and brought me to Himself. Now I believe those 3.5 years of ‘wandering around in the wilderness,’ in the New Age movement, was a vital stepping-stone to the planting of both of my feet into the ‘fourth type of soil,’ as per Mark 4:13-20.
Eventually, I earned my Masters in Biblical Studies in Dallas, Texas.
Once I was ‘born-again,’ my ‘gypsy blood’ was conducive to a burden for the unsaved world, outside the U.S. I met my handsome Malaysian (Chinese—Indian) husband at a mission, prayer meeting he led, in San Diego, California. (He had just spent 3 years in Europe with a mission group.)
After we’d been married for 9 years, and upon my turning 48—the Lord gave me a new country/continent/culture as a birthday gift, by relocating us to E. Malaysia, Sabah, on the Island of Borneo. That was in January of 1997. We live here still—having grown to see God’s multi-faceted wisdom in moving us here. A primary reason was to help my husband’s brother with his church plants.
Out of our 24+ years in Borneo, the Lord has used my relative isolation to give me experience in teaching Bible Studies, verse-by-verse—to young church leaders and professionals, and to the University students in our church. (It has since morphed into a ZOOM Bible Study)
I explain in the preface of my book, JOYFUL ABIDING, how I came to teach and write for Abiding Life Ministries International.
When not doing ministry, I love traveling, language learning, lapping my pool, and reading.
A recent highlight in my life is an outreach to the illegals who live at (and eke out a living from) our local dumpsite. I have a great team and an even greater God—who is making this happen!
Please also check out my book, Joyful Abiding, by clicking on ORDER NOW.
BLESSINGS be upon you, should you invest any time in this site!
Nancy L. Tan