I loved the charismatic worship and the energetic music and attended the youth group.
I met Jesus sitting on a beach one evening at Easter at the age of 15 during a youth event.
My love of horses took me to study equine management in Devon before returning to Cyprus where I met my military husband, Andy.
On returning to the UK, getting married and having our two girls, Alex and Rebecca, church took a back seat until my husband decided to take the girls to our local parish church. Within six weeks, I had joined the choir, re-kindled my relationship with God and found myself enrolled on a course in Christian Discipleship.
My vicar and good friend began to challenge me to think about where God was calling me; in particular to a role within leadership in the church.
Working in education at the time and leading the youth groups I felt content in my role but recognised a constant ‘nagging’ in the back of my mind that God was prompting me to respond to the challenge.
I knew he wasn’t going to give up until I did so I bit the bullet!
After being licensed as a Reader in 2009 and moving into full time youth ministry in 2012, I was well on the way in exploring the call I felt towards ordained ministry.
After being recommended for training in June 2017 I became a full-time student at The Queen’s Foundation in Birmingham and have loved the opportunity to study theology.
I am passionate about social justice and community transformation through the gospel and I am looking forward to being ‘on the ground’ again in my curacy.
When I am not working or studying, I enjoy socialising, baking cakes, watching films and reading trashy novels! I also love to be by the water – I love the sea and hate being so far from it but am looking forward to getting to know the canals and waterways of Sawley and beyond.
Andy and I are just starting to enjoy the perks of having grown up children and being able to sneak in weekends away and days out and enjoying being ‘where we are’ in our journey together.
My journey to ordination has been a long one; but always with the sense of being led into the right place at God’s right time – even when that was tough.
It is tempting to rush in or try to pre-empt what is next and learning to sit, pray and ‘be’ has been key in my journey and trusting God’s prompting to take the next step to where I am – and where God is taking me next!
Bring it on!
Those being ordained deacon by Bishop Libby at Derby Cathedral on 30 June 2019: Sally-Anne Beecham, Rhoda Blackwell, Brenda Jackson, Elaine Jones, Dawn Knight, James Millwain, Jenny Newman and Anthony Till
See also