When You Need to Be Patient Longer Than is Reasonable: An Interview with Josie Rivett (Season 2, Episode 9)
When You Need to Be Patient Longer Than is Reasonable: An Interview with Josie Rivett
Today’s interview is with Josie Rivett, a mother of four and the founder of a parachurch ministry, Living Words. She’s written an Australian curriculum for kids ministry to teach through the Bible in a year. We discuss her experience starting a PhD in education and setting up Living Words, which pushed her to trust in God’s provision more deeply after a long struggle with doubt in her teens and twenties.
In today’s episode, we explore:
How Josie’s parents came to faith just after she was born, growing up in a Christian home, and being plagued by doubts and a lack of assurance throughout her teens and early twenties. Witnessing her father go into full time ministry, God providing for them, and the kindness and generosity of her parents to others.
The strong faith and convictions of friends, her husband, and parents which has encouraged her to keep going when her faith felt weak.
Setting out to start a PhD in education and write a curriculum for kids ministry when she noticed that there was not an Australian curriculum that took children through the Bible in the year, written for volunteers who did not have qualifications in education or theology and how this spurred her on to persevere and rely on God’s provision.
Mentioned in today’s episode:
The plane analogy comes from Rory Shiner’s book One Forever: The Transforming Power of Being In Christ
The story of Joseph, the cupbearer and the baker is in Genesis 40.
The story of Hannah is in 1 Samuel 1.
The story of Ruth is in the book of Ruth.
Hebrews 11
Josie recommended Caffs Juniper as the woman who encourages her.
* Please note this interview was recorded mid-2025.
About Josie
Josie Rivett
Living Words combines three things Josie loves: Jesus, teaching and kids. She’s passionate about quality teaching that’s enjoyable, engaging, and thought-provoking. Using her experience and studies in education and theology, Josie has created a Biblically sound curriculum that’s easy to access, understand, and implement. Josie is helped by a team of people who have taught others about Jesus for many years.
While her favourite things are her husband and four kids, she loves having a chat and would never say no to a small (or large) piece of cake. Josie attends Providence Church in Perth, Western Australia.