My Ministry Story
Regardless of the ministry that one finds themself in, it is the relationships that they build that allow them to make a difference for the Kingdom.
My ministry began in earnest a few years after I met Jesus. I was in high school, and after seeing the way Jesus had changed me, I wanted to do all that I could to create spaces where He could do the same for others. Throughout high school and college, I volunteered with kids and students to do what I could to introduce them to the One that could save them and make them new. During this time, so many people pointed to a calling towards vocational ministry in my life, but the Lord had not opened my eyes to that reality yet. Instead, I prepared for a career in academia by studying experimental psychology. Looking back, I can see the ways that the Lord allowed me to explore my own understanding of my calling, while still using this time to build me up for the ministry that He had ahead of me.
After my time in undergrad, while working odd jobs, the ministry that I still volunteered with found themselves in need of a director. I stepped in on an interim basis while I waited to apply to graduate programs. As I did this work, I was a part of a team that was seeking the next permanent director. Through that search, the Lord revealed to me that this is what it would look like to live into my calling that He was now revealing to me. I submitted myself to the selection process, and I was affirmed in that calling by the team. I was finally living out my calling, and I began to see the ways that God had been at work through everything that had led me to that point.
After some time, I felt the pull to go back to school. I was working with middle school and high school students, and they were continuing to grow in their knowledge and faith which kept me challenged to stay ahead of them in that. If I wanted to serve them well, I needed to pursue more targeted growth. I sought my session’s support in pursuing my M.Div part time through Covenant Theological Seminary. At this time, I had no pull towards more traditional, pastoral ministry, but I wanted to provide the best that I could for the students that I served and the adults that I led.
Throughout my time in seminary, the Lord made it clear to me that he was preparing me for my next step, just like he did with my time in undergrad. I thought I was building myself up for what I was currently doing, but he had other plans. I have always joked that being a Student Ministry Director is like being the senior pastor of a very young church. You lead volunteers. You read the culture. You schedule events. You preach constantly. You provide care for hurts. You walk with your people as best you can. And you lift them up to Jesus and trust Him for the rest. As I worked through my M.Div, I saw the Lord calling me to do this same work on a larger scale. I was being led to do this for the whole church as a pastor.
I have now completed my ordination work for ECO, and I have received a full endorsement for ordination. I am currently seeking a church where I can lead out of my giftedness in preaching and relationship building. I have a heart for those who do not know the Lord and for those who are seeking to know Him better. I want to serve alongside those who are looking to love and serve their neighbors well. I am unafraid of challenges, and the hard conversations do not scare me. When the Church binds ourselves together in supernatural community that can only be built on the Gospel, then there is nothing that we cannot face together.
