Who are the ministers? We all are. I just shepherd a little along the way.
I have always understood my life as a gift from God. As such, I have always tried to use that gift how God wishes for it to be used. The question I have to constantly ask myself is: What was/is my call?
For a long time I truly believed that call was vocal music. My early life was rather chaotic, to put it mildly, and I found my voice while singing Amazing Grace at a theme park. This was when I was in Elementary School. From then I began singing in the adult choir, participating in Cantatas and joining any extra music group that would have me.
Eventually I began to realize singing was not enough. I was growing a passion to share God's message and a 4 minute song didn't share the full expanse and beauty I felt called to relate to others. It was in High School, sitting with my former youth director and then full time minister I explained my desire to seek full time ministry. She gave me logistics and affirmed that call as well. (Over the years many ministers and others have also done the same.)
As of now I find myself in an interesting place. The mainline church is in decline, some have even said the last stages of death. I am a new minister living during the end of an era. Recently, I had to decide, was I going to be the end-of-life care giver, gently caring for the dying church and giving them the respect they deserve as they go peacefully. Or, was I a birther, who would bring a new life to the church and in turn a new beginning. I realized I am the later. New church start is the more difficult road to follow because it is a new road and must be blazed. Still, it is where I feel called. If I am going to respect the gifts God has given me, I will blaze any trail I am called to walk.
For a long time I truly believed that call was vocal music. My early life was rather chaotic, to put it mildly, and I found my voice while singing Amazing Grace at a theme park. This was when I was in Elementary School. From then I began singing in the adult choir, participating in Cantatas and joining any extra music group that would have me.
Eventually I began to realize singing was not enough. I was growing a passion to share God's message and a 4 minute song didn't share the full expanse and beauty I felt called to relate to others. It was in High School, sitting with my former youth director and then full time minister I explained my desire to seek full time ministry. She gave me logistics and affirmed that call as well. (Over the years many ministers and others have also done the same.)
As of now I find myself in an interesting place. The mainline church is in decline, some have even said the last stages of death. I am a new minister living during the end of an era. Recently, I had to decide, was I going to be the end-of-life care giver, gently caring for the dying church and giving them the respect they deserve as they go peacefully. Or, was I a birther, who would bring a new life to the church and in turn a new beginning. I realized I am the later. New church start is the more difficult road to follow because it is a new road and must be blazed. Still, it is where I feel called. If I am going to respect the gifts God has given me, I will blaze any trail I am called to walk.
- Trained at Hope Partnerships as a New Church Planter.
- Participated in online class on Church Revitalization led by Dick Hamm. More than learning the steps to revitalization, I learned the signs of a broken church and why it is broken.
- Took Worship and Wonder Training. This also goes by the name of Godly Play.
- Have multiple storytelling classes under my belt from Children's storytelling to Biblical Storytelling. I use my storytelling knowledge to craft meaningful sermons.
For a complete look at my ministry, please visit www.FigTreeChristian.org