Below is a glimpse into my life journey thus far…

HEART

If you would’ve told me 40 years ago that I would be living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (now that's a tongue twister, eh?)… I would have said you were bonkers! But, as The Word says "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." (Proverbs 19:21) You see… if I were to have planned out my life, I would have been a music teacher, rock star, or soap opera diva. Some friends from my teen years would definitely say that I missed the mark and ventured off the path of those callings. I did win the crown for Miss Thief River Falls and ran in the Miss Minnesota pageant while dating my Canadian beau but after that, I took an abrupt turn and ventured north to Canada after a whirlwind romance and began a new chapter as Mrs. Kozan.

If anyone from my past were to question my chosen path,
I would simply invite them over for a cup of coffee and share it with them, heart to heart.

Restoration begins in the heart.

To read a glimpse of my miracle story, click here for an article from the WHY Magazine as published and distributed to over 50,000 homes in 2015.

*Credentials: Speak Up with Confidence & P31's She Speaks Grad, Lowthian College AAS degree in Minneapolis and Briercrest Seminary Masters Graduate.

FAMILY

This year marks 33 years married to my Tim. We have 4 daughters, 2 son-in-laws and 3 precious grandsons. As a wife, mom, grandma to these amazing people, I am filled with joy and privileged to run with such an incredible tribe. God knew that I would be launching a ministry which would give me lots of opportunity to learn about the importance of restoration in men, women and families. 
Restoration begins in the heart and extends to the family. 

No matter where we live or what season we’re in, I often say “Bloom where you are planted”. It is possible to do this when we cooperate with God’s perfect plan for our imperfect lives. Tim and I enjoy country living with Saskatchewan’s claim to fam: “Land of the Living Skies”, but am also inspired by God’s beauty in our travels too. Raising a family on the prairies had its perks of the simple life but also navigating through the different seasons (both physical and spiritual). Growing up in Northern Minnesota and Tim near Winnipeg, MB, and creating our home base in Saskatchewan, we quickly understood how “it takes a village" to raise a family and are so grateful to the friends turned family who helped us along the way.

I like to call myself a Triple Citizen. Being American by birth, Canadian by marriage and as The Word says, my citizenship is in heaven (Philippines 3:20). Because of that truth, I am amazed at the massive family around me and those I will meet in eternity.

WORLD

Women’s Journey Of Faith Est. 1999

WJOF is a non-profit, non-denominational ministry for all women established in 1999. As founder of WJOF, I look upon the 16 years of organizational formation with great joy knowing that my passion for restoration was chiseled during that time of vision casting, event planning, and team building. I was able to meet world-renowned speakers and leaders, partnering with incredible organizations. After my faith encounter, there has been no other pivotal season in my life that has served as such a catalyst for my convictions like WJOF has. It's a true statement that we receive far more serving than those who are the recipients of our service. After resigning in May 2015, something beautiful came out of that time of relinquishment. It is through that initial leadership journey at WJOF that I can truly say without compromise that I am more sold out for the call of the Gospel (John 3:16), the passion and mandate for unity among God's people (John 17), the world's cry for equality and reconciliation (Genesis 1:26-27) and the dire need for justice and freeing the oppressed with our response (Isaiah 58). I am forever grateful for the opportunity to launch a dream into existence. Each experience with WJOF had served a purpose to the leadership assignment in launching Hope Restored Canada. I appreciate WJOF’s core values as they continue to be deeply entrenched within me to "live by faith, walk in love and inspire destiny." 

Hope Restored Canada Est. 2015

It is amazing how when we listen to our hearts cry for restoration, there is a calling that is so personal to each one of us, inviting us to embark on if we truly listen. Over the years, WJOF partnered with various organizations that focused on bringing restoration to women, marriages, families, and communities. What gives me the greatest joy is when I have the honour to step out in faith (or witness others step out in faith ) to bring restoration or restore hope in others. in 2011, I began to learn more about the global epidemic of human trafficking and the root causes: sex addiction/degradation, violence against women, racism, poverty, etc. This list has brought me to my knees in desperate cries and audacious prayers. The documentary "Nefarious, the Merchant of Souls" by Exodus Cry was another instrumental resource waking me up to this travesty. To quote the famous abolitionist, William Wilberforce: "You may choose to look the other way but you can no longer say you didn't know." Awareness is the first step in awakening injustices all around the world. Searching deep within yourself to do something about those injustices is another. The darkness seems too much to bare at times but with God’s help, we can be lifted above the disparity and seek to be an answer. We can make a difference. We can actually listen to what our hearts are crying out for and take action. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and to steward the gift of restoration. From this realization, Hope Restored Canada was born. It is an organization addressing human trafficking / sexual exploitation established in 2015.

To learn more, visit www.hoperestoredcanada.org or email info@hoperestoredcanada.org.
To read an interview with by Michelle Brock, click on her blog “Meet an Abolitionist- Interview with Jodi Kozan”.

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Praying. A boat load of grace when I mess up. God’s word - His truth to guide my wandering path. Spending time with family and friends. Pilates and power walks. Cranking up my favourite tunes, plays or musicals. Umpteen coffee chats, social media connections. Chocolate of any kind, flowers, our doggies Teddy and Laiah. Traveling near and far.
And most inspiring? Dreaming what it was like to walk in the garden before the fall and knowing that our original intent and design is what the restoration message is all about.
My favourite sweet spot is when I rest in the fact that God is in control and I am not... moving forward on my journey of faith, I choose hope.

FAVOURITE QUOTES

"One life is all we have to live and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying."
- Joan of Arc

"Life as we know it, with all its ups and downs will soon be over. We all will be given an accounting to God of how we have lived."
- William Wilberforce

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."
- Corrie Ten Boom

"The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully faced."
- Dan Allender

"My home is in Heaven. I'm just traveling through this world."
- Billy Graham

“We cannot hope to bring about effective change unless we are willing to be changed.”
- Richard J. Mouw

"If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.”
- Mother Theresa

"To love someone fiercely, to believe in something with your whole heart, to celebrate a fleeting moment in time, to fully engage in a life that doesn't come with guarantees, these are risks that involve vulnerability and often pain. But, I'm learning that recognizing and leaning into the discomfort of vulnerability teaches us how to live with joy, gratitude and grace."
- Brene Brown

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