About Jennie

Name: Jennie Pollock Hart

Occupation: Writer, Editor, Speaker

Author of: If Only: Finding joyful contentment in the face of lack and longing (as Jennie Pollock) (The Good Book Company, 2020)

I have also regularly written Bible reading notes for Scripture Union publications such as Daily Bread since 2013.

Potted History:

My plan for life was fairly straightforward: train as a teacher, marry, have children, and settle down in some nice, English village close to my parents. But God had other plans.

I managed part one immediately after leaving school, but then found myself unable to get a job, and trying to ignore the ‘still, small voice’ prompting me to join the missionary organisation OM on one of their ships. Eventually I obeyed, and spent two years on board, teaching in the small school for the children of the captain and senior crew members (and getting to see much of the Caribbean, central America and the west coast of the USA along the way).

I then continued in OM for another 8 years, mostly based from Atlanta, GA, as PA/road manager/banana bread maker-in-chief for a music ministry led by Bill Drake. (And got to see a lot more of the world!)

Next, I moved to London, and in my 15 years there worked for a think tank, a couple of church networks, two social action charities, a church, and the Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF), in various capacities involving administration, writing, editing and speaking. Thanks to the generosity of the think tank (Theos) and CMF, I also acquired two Masters’ degrees along the way – one in Philosophy, and the other in Bioethics and Medical Law.

Most of those roles were part time, as I was made redundant at the end of 2012 and have been writing and editing on a freelance basis either full- or part-time ever since. Speaking came later, starting with the women’s ministry at my church, and quickly becoming something I absolutely love. Leading Bible explorations (very different to traditional studies) is my favourite.

Fun and exciting and wonderful as all this was, however, a small part of me always longed for a husband. Then around 2017 I realised I had stopped yearning and aching and begging God to fulfil that dream. I found myself completely contented with where I was, and happy to trust his plan for me.

I was invited, by The Good Book Company, to write a book on the topic of finding contentment in various un-looked-for situations. If Only was published in 2020 and launched during one of the lockdowns! We had a very fun online launch party, though, which my brother and other friends from overseas were able to join, who wouldn’t have been able to make it otherwise.

And then, two years later, completely out of the blue, I reconnected with – and fell head-over-heels in love with – an old friend from university days. Dave Hart and I married in 2023, and I moved to the small town he lived in, not too far from my parents!

I will soon be transitioning this website to become JennieHartWrites, as I want to honour my husband by taking on his name. Hopefully all will go nice and smoothly!

As for the future, if my life has taught me one thing, it’s that God’s plans for me are far bigger and wilder than my own, so I’m just buckling up and enjoying the ride. Who’s with me?

Picture Credit: Mark Goddard