Called, Tested, and Sent: My Journey to Ordination

There are moments in life that feel surreal, where the weight of years of work, struggle, and prayer finally lifts, and all that remains is gratitude. Today, I was officially approved for ordination as an elder in the United Methodist Church, a journey that began in earnest in 2016 but, in reality, started long before that. There were times when the road ahead seemed impassable—when I questioned whether I had the strength or perseverance to keep going. And yet, here I am, standing on the other side, overwhelmed with joy, relief, and an immeasurable sense of calling.

The path to ordination is not for the faint of heart. It requires years of discernment, education, and, let’s be honest, patience with an institutional process that can sometimes feel like running a marathon in knee-deep mud. After years of lay ministry as a deaconess, I had to go back to school, finishing my bachelor’s degree after being out of college for almost twenty years. Let me tell you, jumping back into academic life as an adult is humbling. Writing papers, studying for exams, and in classes filled with people half my age? That'll keep you on your toes. But God kept nudging me forward, reminding me that this was the work I was called to do. Philippians 1:6 carried me through: “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Then came seminary—four years of deep theological wrestling, sleepless nights, and learning to rely on God in ways I never had before. It was during finals week in 2020 that I lost my mother. The grief was like an anvil on my chest, and for a moment, I wasn’t sure I could keep going. COVID had already turned the world upside down, and now, my world was shattered in a deeply personal way. I remember sitting at my desk, staring at the words on the screen, unable to form coherent thoughts. But God showed up in the love of my classmates, professors, friends and familywho carried me when I couldn’t carry myself. In those moments, I clung to Isaiah 41:10: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If seminary was a challenge, the three-year residency program in the UMC was like refining fire. During a time when the church was facing massive disaffiliation upheavals, it often felt like I was running an obstacle course while the course itself was being dismantled. Congregations were hurting, people were angry, and the landscape of the church I was preparing to serve in was shifting beneath my feet. I had to constantly reevaluate what God was asking of me. Was I still called to this? Was I willing to say yes, even when the future was uncertain? Over and over again, the answer was yes. Not because I had it all figured out, but because God does.

There are far, far too many people to name who have helped me along this journey. Mentors, colleagues, family, friends, and church members who prayed for me, encouraged me, and reminded me why I started this path in the first place. I could not have done this alone. Ministry is never a solo endeavor, and neither is answering the call to it. The body of Christ, in all its flawed and beautiful reality, is what makes this possible.

Now, as I prepare to be ordained in June, I stand in awe of what God has done. The journey has been long, and at times, painful. But God has been faithful. This isn’t the end of the road—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. I don’t know exactly what’s ahead, but I do know this: “The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Thanks be to God.