Our Writer

Tamika Spaulding

Hi there! I tell inspiring stories to uplift and encourage readers to grow in faith, hope and joy.  I can’t wait to share stories with you! Here is a small part of my story….

I was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Adelaide and lived with my Mum, Dad and younger sister.  My love for connecting with people began early, when, as a young child, I spent a significant amount of time in hospitals and waiting rooms due to my Mum’s and my own poor health. It was within those trips that story became important to me.

I had a keen interest in music throughout my schooling and attempted to learn as many musical instruments as possible.  Some of my best memories are from the time when I was actively engaged in music performance and surrounded by the arts. 

At eighteen, I moved to Tasmania to volunteer with a relief agency that ran a motivational program throughout schools, churches, and various centres.  The following year I studied teaching at university, by distance, and began classroom music teaching. 

I have experience in leading youth groups, and I am currently working on writing my first Young Adults novel. I currently serve on the Omega Writers committee and help host a monthly catch-up for christian writers within Australasia. I am a member of the Australasian Christian Writers Group, Christian Writers Downunder and 168 Film. I have been married for over sixteen years to my wonderful husband and love doing life with him and our four children.

From the earliest of memories, I have loved to engage with people.  This often terrified my Mum, as I would strike up a conversation anywhere and everywhere.  Hearing the stories of others had a profound and lasting effect on me.  It also influenced the way I viewed the world.  In many ways, without some of these stories being shared, I would not have become the person I am today. 

This is what has inspired me to write stories. I understand the importance your story can have on a person who needs to hear it. I want to give your story a voice, so it can have a profound and lasting effect on another’s life. Your story might just change someone forever!

There is also great freedom and healing for you when you share your own story! Our voice is one of the most powerful instruments we own and I hope you can allow me the opportunity to give voice to it!

Our Team

Kerry-Ann Nicolai

Hello, I work within the education department and I love to travel and spend time with my family. I proof-read and edit various featured stories and content and help to design and update our website from time to time.  Great to see you here.

Sherinne Jenke

Hi, I love solving puzzles, playing board games and crochet. I will soon be busily creating products for our upcoming shop. Keep an eye out for it ~ coming soon!

Jye Spaulding

Hi, I am a tech guru.  I love to build and race drones, solve puzzles, ride my mountain bike, and take photos.  I will be helping to record and upload both video and audio clips.

Kayla Spaulding

Hey, I love to draw, colour, and read. I will be uploading encouraging bible verses, share personal faith-based stories and artwork to brighten your day.

Samiya & Eltani Spaulding

Hello, we love to record bible verses to share with you from time-to-time.

The Beginnings of ‘His Herd’

I love to talk almost as much as I love to listen.  I care a lot about people and the lives they live.  It was a series of trips through Australia, Europe and America in 2019 that highlighted to me the importance of story sharing.

While travelling, I did what was normal to me: I had many conversations with people on trains, buses, planes, in supermarkets and on the streets.  I heard people’s struggles.  I listened, as they spoke about goals, happiness and love.  I comforted them, as they shared stories of heartache, abuse and trauma.  I talked with them about their families and workplaces.  Each story was important. Each story had value. Each story touched me, opened my eyes a little, and I enjoyed the time I had with each person I spoke with greatly. 

It was a lengthy train ride in Germany, with a lady a similar age to myself, that had a significant impact on me.  We had almost reached her stop, after many words shared, when she packed up her untouched laptop and headphones and said, “Thanks for the chat, I felt valued today!”  Her face lit up, as she stood to place her backpack on.  “I’ve been travelling on this train every day, twice a day for six years, and nobody has talked with me like you have before.  I think sharing our stories with one another really matters.”  She wrote her details on a piece of paper and asked to stay in touch as we said our goodbyes.  We have stayed in touch. 

As I reflected on our conversation and looked around the train, I noticed it was predominantly silent.  People appeared entertained by devices or sat quietly looking out the window.  Did they like sitting in silence on the train? I pondered… 

There are days we need to sit in silence or be quietly distracted from our life.  There are other days we might yearn for connection.  We are not all conversationalists, and that is completely acceptable, but it got me thinking, perhaps some of us do want to share our story but haven’t found a safe place or given an opportunity to do that?

The idea of creating such a space began to grow in my mind. 

Being a storyteller at heart, I was reminded of a time several years back when I had felt driven to write.  I wanted to write something that had integrity, meaning and purpose, but I was scared to try, so I just sat on the idea. 

I love to chat with God about the ideas that roll around in my mind. On one such occasion, in an early morning chat, the beautiful Bible verse of Habakkuk 3:19 came.  This verse says, ‘The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.’ 

This verse really made me think.  We all have a story to share and it is an important one, because it is ours, and only ours. 

In life, hopefully our story includes times of fulfillment and happiness, however, it is likely to include times of feeling a bit lost. 

This verse offers a picture of hope. A hope that is offered to every one of us equally.  It takes the pressure off us finding strength within ourselves to carry on in the hard times.  We have a loving God who has said He will be our strength when we feel weak, alone, discouraged or struggling.  He has said He will sustain us when it gets tough.  We will get to the ‘high hills’.

It is here, at ‘His Herd’ that I hope you find a safe space to be able to share your story.  It is here, that I hope you can find comfort and encouragement in reading other people’s stories.  It is my hope that you allow God to be your strength, and figuratively speaking, find yourself with deer’s feet to journey up the high hills to a place of peace, faith and joy.

— Tamika Spaulding x