Navigating Early Education and Unexpected Interests

Jon Owen's mum enrolled him in a computer science degree at University - expecting him to build a flourishing career; which he did. It just wasn't the one that everyone expected. (R)

Jon Owen came to Australia as a small child.

He survived playground racism at school, and became a high achiever.

His family expected him to excel at school and university and go on to a flourishing career.

And that's exactly what he did — in a way that nobody could have predicted.

Jon was near the end of his computer science degree when he chose a life of 'intentional downward mobility'.

He began working with the homeless, the addicted and the disenfranchised, and living with them too.

Today he's the Pastor and CEO at Sydney's Wayside Chapel in Kings' Cross.

This story is about family of origin, ancestry, life stories, disadvantage, drug use, children, faith, charity, social work, refugees, asylum seekers, Christianity, Jesus, family stories, family life, homelessness, caring, love, and downward mobility