3 Teacher: For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven:
2 A time to be born, a time to die;
a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;
3 A time to kill, a time to heal;
a time to tear down, a time to build up;
4 A time to cry, a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, a time to dance;
5 A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;
a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;
6 A time to search, a time to give up as lost;
a time to keep, a time to throw out;
7 A time to tear apart, a time to bind together;
a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;
8 A time to love, a time to hate;
a time to go to war, a time to make peace.
a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;
3 A time to kill, a time to heal;
a time to tear down, a time to build up;
4 A time to cry, a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, a time to dance;
5 A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;
a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;
6 A time to search, a time to give up as lost;
a time to keep, a time to throw out;
7 A time to tear apart, a time to bind together;
a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;
8 A time to love, a time to hate;
a time to go to war, a time to make peace.
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As I write this post, I reflect on this above Scripture because it is time to begin a new season of my life. If I had known a year ago where I would be today, I would not have believed it. This was not in my life plan and there is still so much to do and learn in the years ahead. However, the first steps have taken place and I think it's time I share my story. This is a story that opens up a new journey I'm about to begin, or continue because I know that this is a journey I've been on since October. Now, it's just time to fill in others on this journey.
This is me telling the beginning of my ministry journey......hang with me as I tell my tale.
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I remember crying at my confirmation. On a bright Sunday morning, I knelt at the altar of my home church. Around my neck was the stole I had made for this day, full of pictures of symbolic representations of my faith journey thus far. I clearly recall how I felt the touch of all those around me, as the pastor blessed me: my parents, my youth director, Angela, and my pastors. As I felt their hands on me, I felt another pair of hands, too. These hands were God placing God's hands on me as I knelt and made a promise to begin my own faith walk. This was very important to me, because I was ready to begin to define what my faith meant, one that was separate from my family's; I took the gift of obtaining my own church membership as a great responsibility. As I rose after the blessing, I felt tears rolling down my face. These tears were gentle, soft tears of gratitude because my heart felt it was about to burst with joy. As one of my friend's dad, who to this day is very special to me, handed me a tissue to wipe my tears, I smiled and sat down in the pew. At the time, I thought I was just being emotional as I always was. As I reflect back now, I think that this was the first time that God began calling me to ministry. I was just not ready to recognize nor accept it yet.
I left for Washington, D.C. in the August of 2014 ready to begin steps in furthering my dream of becoming a broadcast journalist. I was ready to set the world on fire with my broadcast skills and a heart that was ready to be a "voice for the voiceless". When I left in December of 2014 to return to South Carolina, I also left with a call to ministry.
As I know all who are reading this are surprised, trust me....so was I. In fact, I still am.
As I know all who are reading this are surprised, trust me....so was I. In fact, I still am.
It has now been almost six months since I first recognized this call on Massachusetts Ave. in Washington, D.C., but this week marks the beginning of accepting this call. As was announced in my college home church, Broad Street United Methodist Church, I am beginning to explore candidacy with the South Carolina Conference of the UMC to follow a call into ordained deacon ministry with a letter sent to my district superintendent. My vision of being a "voice for the voiceless" still rings in my heart; however, as I told my district superintendent in my letter to inquire about entering exploring the candidacy process, my passion will cause me to be a little more active in helping the voiceless.
A long story short, I fully recognized my call while I was in Washington, D.C. because God placed me in a news room with a wonderful internship where I had always thought I wanted to be, and then in a church community where I had always been. Over the course of the months I was in the city, my life began to take a twist away from the news room and more towards the church. At Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, I saw a very powerful outreach ministry towards those on the margins; these people on the margins I also befriended. Within this congregation and participating in its ministries, I felt such a fulfillment. Perhaps it was because my mind was already in tuned with my internship to think about my future, that I finally recognized this call God had placed on my heart. Who truly knows. I just know that it was through the power of this church and its pastor that I finished a thought of entering ordained ministry.
I feel called to be a "voice for the voiceless". I see a very powerful connection within the ministries of a church, particularly outreach ministries, to help those hurting. This also includes those within a congregation. As I spent my time in a city that was completely new, completely out of my comfort zone, and completely spectacular, I found God in ways I had never imagined. People laugh when I say Washington, D.C. taught me how to love. However, it did because it exposed to me first hand the really harsh realities of pain and suffering in this world, but also the ways in which we as the Church are called to aid in this by meeting the basic needs of people (food, shelter, and community), and building spiritually from that by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How God loves and accepts EVERYONE; no matter what.
I'm thankful for this call. I'm also extremely grateful for the way God has used mentors and loved ones and my family to guide me and sustain me in this call; now and as I move forward. One of the biggest advocates and mentors through this now and as I move forward is someone's whose hands were on me that day I was confirmed. She was the first person I reached out to when I felt that whisper in my heart growing louder. Angela Marshall has been a true rock for me in ways I cannot even express. She has been there for me with long text messages, hours on the phone, visits in person, prayers, tough love, and so, so much more. I know she is someone who will be with me all along this way, and I am so thankful for that. God is renewing and using this relationship that I cannot be grateful enough for. Angela, thank you for being you.
There have been many other amazing advocates for me as I begin and continue on this journey, ones I continue to share about as is the right time. My story is not complete, nor will it be until the day I enter into the Glory. For now it is just continuing with this recognition and moving forward as I further discern my call. At the moment, I know I am called to ordained ministry and in the form of deacon. The rest of the details I do not know at the time, nor do I have to I know. God will unveil them to me at the right time in the right places.
I am grateful for where this may take. I'm grateful to the amazing church families and influences that have molded and shaped me into the Christian woman I am. They all will continue to be rocks for me as I move forward. I will continue to use this blog to share my journey. This is only the beginning of it. It is just time I think, to tell everyone.
Lord use me....wherever You may send me.....
A long story short, I fully recognized my call while I was in Washington, D.C. because God placed me in a news room with a wonderful internship where I had always thought I wanted to be, and then in a church community where I had always been. Over the course of the months I was in the city, my life began to take a twist away from the news room and more towards the church. At Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, I saw a very powerful outreach ministry towards those on the margins; these people on the margins I also befriended. Within this congregation and participating in its ministries, I felt such a fulfillment. Perhaps it was because my mind was already in tuned with my internship to think about my future, that I finally recognized this call God had placed on my heart. Who truly knows. I just know that it was through the power of this church and its pastor that I finished a thought of entering ordained ministry.
I feel called to be a "voice for the voiceless". I see a very powerful connection within the ministries of a church, particularly outreach ministries, to help those hurting. This also includes those within a congregation. As I spent my time in a city that was completely new, completely out of my comfort zone, and completely spectacular, I found God in ways I had never imagined. People laugh when I say Washington, D.C. taught me how to love. However, it did because it exposed to me first hand the really harsh realities of pain and suffering in this world, but also the ways in which we as the Church are called to aid in this by meeting the basic needs of people (food, shelter, and community), and building spiritually from that by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. How God loves and accepts EVERYONE; no matter what.
I'm thankful for this call. I'm also extremely grateful for the way God has used mentors and loved ones and my family to guide me and sustain me in this call; now and as I move forward. One of the biggest advocates and mentors through this now and as I move forward is someone's whose hands were on me that day I was confirmed. She was the first person I reached out to when I felt that whisper in my heart growing louder. Angela Marshall has been a true rock for me in ways I cannot even express. She has been there for me with long text messages, hours on the phone, visits in person, prayers, tough love, and so, so much more. I know she is someone who will be with me all along this way, and I am so thankful for that. God is renewing and using this relationship that I cannot be grateful enough for. Angela, thank you for being you.
There have been many other amazing advocates for me as I begin and continue on this journey, ones I continue to share about as is the right time. My story is not complete, nor will it be until the day I enter into the Glory. For now it is just continuing with this recognition and moving forward as I further discern my call. At the moment, I know I am called to ordained ministry and in the form of deacon. The rest of the details I do not know at the time, nor do I have to I know. God will unveil them to me at the right time in the right places.
I am grateful for where this may take. I'm grateful to the amazing church families and influences that have molded and shaped me into the Christian woman I am. They all will continue to be rocks for me as I move forward. I will continue to use this blog to share my journey. This is only the beginning of it. It is just time I think, to tell everyone.
Lord use me....wherever You may send me.....
