Back in 2003-2004, I was a student at Central Michigan University. I was studying religion and gerontology, and preparing to head to seminary in the fall of 2004. I began the ordination process back in 2000, and had my annual meetings not only with the church but also with the district committee on ordained ministry. These important meetings are milestone markers on the ordination process.
During the process, I went through a series of questions, papers, and interviews that were not always easy. One of my favorite questions though, that I heard at every level, was, “Are others affirming on this call in your life?” They were hinting at whether or not the people in my life could see that God was calling me to ministry. My answer each and every time was yes! Yes, I had their support. Yes, they could give examples of my ministry. Yes, by God’s grace, yes!
I have been blessed with so many people affirming this call in my life. As a young person, I have the unconditional support of my home church(es). When my pastor at the retired, he left me ooodles of books from his library. Rev. Marv Rosa was a gift to me and our family. Rev. Kay Coombs and Rev. Greg Culver are two more names of pastors who left their mark in my life.
In college at Central, I became a member of the Wesley Foundation. This was a group of people with similar values to mine from students to leaders to community supporters. The two years with this group were some of the most formative years of my life. Once word got out that was I heading to seminary, my conversations with Rev. Eric Stone where all about where to go, what to study, and what to do when I got there. Eric’s seminary, MTSO, was one of the two on the top of my list.
Once my decision was made to head to “Methesco” (as I knew it), Eric told me about New Life UMC. His friends, Bill and Jennifer were serving there. Jennifer was the pastor. I was told that it wasn’t a typical Methodist Church. It was in the “short north” district in downtown Columbus, Ohio.
I arrived to seminary in the fall of 2004. I remembered stories of New Life from Eric, but had yet to see the church. In fact, I interviewed that fall for a youth pastor position at one of New Life’s partner churches. I didn’t get the job, and spent that first year of school getting my feet wet. In the spring of 2005, I needed to start searching for a field education placement. New Life was going to be open as a site! After a visit with a friend that spring, I reluctantly said yes, I was interested. New Life wasn’t your typical Methodist Church.
I started that fall. Nearly every Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, I was at the church for the next 2 years. I can’t even begin to capture what those two years meant to me as a pastor, as a Christian, and as a new wife. Mike and I met in December of 2005, and our relationship began just as I was beginning ministry there! What a grounding we had!
Those people that come to mind that supported my call to ministry, outside of my family, were at New Life. It wasn’t always easy, safe, or profound. Ministry with our neighbors meant more than just showing up and opening the doors during the week. Ministry with our neighbors meant listening to their stories, sitting with them while they waited for a hot breakfast, and not shying away while they ‘shopped’ for fresh smelling clothes. Ministry with our neighbors meant giving rides in rusty church van (and learning to drive it), listening to hear rather than to fix, and introducing them to Jesus over a hot cup of coffee and an old Bible. Ministry with our neighbors meant introducing a Muslim woman to Jesus one Sunday and celebrating with her as she was baptized elsewhere. Ministry with our neighbors meant $1 movies, AA and NA meetings well into the night, and having the rainbow pew during worship. Ministry with our neighbors meant having courage to confront a drunk man, call the police during worship, and not shying away at cockroaches and rats. Ministry with our neighbors was and is messy, wonderful, chaotic and blessed.
It was with New Life that I discerned my theology – people won’t want to hear about the bread of life in Jesus Christ while their stomachs are growling. People won’t want to hear about the living water having just spent the night on the street in the rain. People won’t want to know Jesus as the shelter from every storm as they slept in a car or an overcrowded shelter. The people I served with, our neighbors, our volunteers and pastors, affirmed this belief every step of the way. Ministry with people, loving them as Jesus does, isn’t about preaching, high church experiences or even how you read the Bible. Ministry with people is about being with people. I give thanks for the people who were with me at New Life, and every step of the way for my ministry journey.
I am so thankful for my return to New Life during my renewal leave. It was a joy to spend some time with Jennifer and Brooke, the two pastors I served with there. It was an honor to recall and witness the many ways that our lives have all crossed paths. Thank you Amy for sharing with us the future of this kingdom work in Columbus. The pictures above are from l-r: Jennifer and I, Brooke and I, me standing at a music stand at New Life where I first preached, and Ricky and I. Ricky traveled with me to Ohio. It was a joy this visit to have my Wisconsin life intersect now with my Ohio life. What a blessing!
Matthew 7:13-14 says, “ “Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.” This is not a passage we read often in the church. Jesus teaches us that ministry or faith is not something that is easy. I recall many trips back to Delaware, Oh after a Sunday at New Life in tears. I felt so out of place there. I didn’t grow up in the inner-city. I didn’t have a lot of experiences with people outside of my own bubble. NOTHING stopped that call in my life to ministry. Even years later when I served at Midland First UMC, a well-to-do congregation, I had similar doubts, fears, and worries. I didn’t grow up with money and access to anything I could have ever wanted. What could I offer these people?
That path to the narrow gate entrance to New Life, literally and spiritually, is paved with trouble. You name this trouble for you! I journeyed the path with low self-esteem and ignorance that manifested in self-doubt and at times an appearance of inability. Through my personal hard work and all the people in my life, I pray that I have changed those perceptions. The path to the narrow gate is still long and the journey is hard, but these days it looks like making wise choices, practicing better self care, and celebrating the small wins – like Sunday morning – everyday is resurrection day! I pray that you will help someone on their journey today!
Facing the Storm with Faith 