Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Brought Up in the Truths of the Faith
When I reflect on my life and my faith, I am reminded of Saint Timothy. I see parallels between my life and his, and the biblical letters addressed to him seem to resonate when I read them. Acts 16 suggests that Timothy's mother was a Jewish Christian and his father was a Gentile. My mother is a lifelong Lutheran Christian. And although both of my parents instilled in me what I would consider Christian values, my father is an agnostic. From childhood, Timothy knew the sacred writings able to instruct him for "salvation through faith in Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 3:15). Likewise, I was taught the scriptures from an early age. My mother saw to it that my younger brother and I were at worship and Sunday School every Sunday, whether we wanted to be or not. Mom also led family devotions during Advent, took me to first communion instruction, helped me memorize parts of Martin Luther's Small Catechism and the books of the Bible, and encouraged me to attend youth group events. Timothy's grandmother was also woman of faith. My mother's parents are also Lutherans and they too influenced my faith life. Both are children of Lutheran pastors. My grandpa is the is the pastor who baptized me (and later in life he preached at my commissioning as an Associate in Ministry). My grandma was one of my baptismal sponsors. And though they lived far away from my family, my grandparents tried to be at milestone events like my confirmation and commissioning.
Both of my parents were teachers in a small school district in central Ohio. My mother taught remedial reading at Millersport Elementary. My father taught business courses and later served as the guidance counselor at Millersport Junior/Senior High. Both of them helped instill in me a passion for reading, a love of learning, and a desire to teach. I excelled in the academic aspects of elementary, junior high and high school. I enjoyed most of my college courses. In addition to providing a solid foundation for learning, my parents also provided much of my college tuition.
Train Yourself to Be Godly
As I was not required to work in college, I had time to grow spiritually and socially. I chose to attend Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio. One of my first courses was "The Art of Biblical Narrative." We were required to read about ten chapters of the Bible each night. This was the first time I had read the Bible on a regular basis. After the course was over, I continued to read until I had finished reading every book of the Old and New Testaments, and most of the Apocryphal books. I was also thinking about Jesus in new ways. What was Jesus like as a teenager? What was it like for Jesus to be human? What was it like for Jesus to be a man? What was the nature of Jesus' relationship with Joseph?
I found other college students who were reading and studying the Bible and asking questions about Jesus and about faith. They were involved in an evangelical campus ministry, which I eventually became a part of as well. With this group I experienced intimate Christian fellowship, which I had not experienced in high school. I found a group of friends who thought it was cool to be a Christian and to love Jesus. I found role models who taught me and encouraged me. They were the "Pauls" in my faith story. I learned to practice my faith by studying, inviting, and encouraging. I had the opportunity to lead a Bible study with the men in my residence hall. Though I was not active in a congregation during my college years, I attended worship regularly on campus and in the Springfield community.
At Wittenberg I majored in art, with a concentration in photography and computer imaging. I minored in writing, taking classes in fiction, nonfiction and journalism. I was headed toward a career in graphic design, but I was challenged to consider full-time ministry by my friends, the campus ministry leaders and the career development office. After graduation, I served as a counselor with the Amazing Grace Day Camp sponsored by the Southern Ohio Synod of the ELCA. While the summer was one of difficult transitions for me, I enjoyed working with the children and received valuable hands-on youth ministry training.
Don't Let Anyone Look Down on You Because You are Young…As the summer of 1996 came to an end, I interviewed for the Director of Educational and Youth Ministry position at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jeffersontown, Ky. For my first year and a half of service, I was the only full-time staff person, as the congregation was without a full-time pastor. During this time, my primary focus was working with the youth group, comprised of junior and senior high school students. My involvement included visiting the families of the students to get to know them better, organizing youth events and retreats, and meeting with the Youth Ministry and Christian Education committees. I also publicized events through a special youth section of the church newsletter, which also featured a monthly comic strip that I wrote and drew. My involvement in Christian Education ministries initially included assisting with Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. I was also instrumental in implementing a new confirmation program, which was a radical change from the previous program. After our congregation called our pastor in 1998, the congregation articulated a vision statement which called for additional youth programs and Christian Education opportunities. These factors led to year-round Sunday School, a series of weekly youth nights during the winter months, a musical program about the Ten Commandments featuring our confirmation students, and weekly breakfasts for youth during the summer months.
The summers over the past 10 years have also allowed me and the youth group to be involved with synodical and churchwide events. I have chaperoned trips to the ELCA Youth Gathering in 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006. I was co-coordinator of the youth program at the Global Mission Event held at Purdue University in 1999. I represented our synod at the Young Adult Convocation at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 1999. I have served as an adult advisor at a Council of Synod LYO Presidents (CSLYOPs) meeting in Atlanta and at the LYO Convention held in 2000 in southern Illinois. For three summers, I attended Leadership Training School (LTS), where I served as a small group and workshop leader. I also served as an adult advisor for the Indiana-Kentucky Lutheran Youth Organization (IKLYO) Board from 1998 to 2003. The 2003 synod youth gathering drew over 100 people to Lutheran Hills for a weekend of fellowship, Bible study and fun. By participating in these events myself, I have learned more about the structure and ministries of the ELCA, and I have supported and encouraged young people who are active in synodical and churchwide youth ministries.
Thoroughly Equipped for Every Good Work
After working at Christ Lutheran for a year, I enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, so that I could study the Bible and so that I would be better equipped for church work. For six years I worked on a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education part time. My classes included the Spiritual Development of Children, Simulation and Discovery Learning, and the Ministry of Writing. I also completed two semesters of Supervised Ministry Experience (SME). My SME learning goals included maintaining a personal exercise regimen, exploring the opportunities and challenges of intergenerational Sunday School, observing our weekday kindergarten classroom, and becoming more comfortable visiting members of the congregation. Going to school part time allowed me to apply the classroom theories to a real world ministry setting, and in turn offer an experienced viewpoint in the classroom. As a Lutheran, I was in the minority at Southern, which was difficult at times, but I also found that it helped me clarify the differences in theology and practice of the two denominations.
Do Not Neglect Your Gift
As I neared the completion of my degree program, I also entered the candidacy process for the first time, with the intent of becoming a rostered Associate in Ministry. Throughout the process, I learned about my strengths and weaknesses, my gifts and convictions. My experiences, spiritual gift inventories, and the observations of others have led me to believe that my spiritual gifts include administration and teaching. I have come to see that my artistic abilities are talents that can be used as teaching tools, as well as in other ways. The aspects of my personality are also gifts—the introverted aspect of my personality allows me to think, meditate, reflect and study. I am shy and reserved, and at times I'm perceived as unfriendly. The aspect of my personality that likes to be organized helps me bring order and structure to the ministries I oversee. I like to learn to do new things, which sometimes prevents me from delegating responsibilities to others. I am a good listener when I set aside distractions. The youth I work with are often comfortable talking with me about their lives and struggles. I am sensitive to the feelings of others, but sometimes overly sensitive to the comments of others about me.
Let Them First Be Tested
I completed my degree in spring 2003 and I did additional course work in the fall. I was approved toward the end of the year. Christ Lutheran called me to continue to serve the congregation as an Associate in Ministry. I was commissioned on Palm Sunday, April 4, 2004 (04/04/04). My personal sense of call was affirmed by a call from the whole church, as well as a specific call from my congregation. At my commissioning, I was given two symbols of my ministry as an Associate in Ministry: a leather-bound copy of The Message (a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible by Eugene Peterson) and a pitcher and basin from Louisville Stoneware, decorated with the ELCA and AiM logos. The symbols represent a call to the ministry of Word and Service that Associates in Ministries share. They serve as important reminders of what God has called me to do in my ministry. It has been a pleasure to get to know the other AiMs, deaconesses, and diaconal ministers in our synod. I enjoy learning about the diverse contexts in which they serve and live our their calls to ministry. Some work with youth and Christian education ministries; others focus on music or senior adult ministry.
