Shaped by Love Shaped to Love

Shaped by Love Shaped to Love

As she retires from her current role as pastor of First Baptist Church, Guelph, Rev. Debra Nicholson offers wise insights on ministry.

Q: How have you and your call to ministry been shaped by Love? Love was a big extended family. My dad’s siblings and their families returned home several times a year for celebrations, for a family reunion and for the harvest. This solidified our connection and my sense of belonging in this great big family.

Love was also a small adoptive family where my mom was an only child. Love looked like my grandfather sitting out in the dark on Christmas morning in his car, waiting for the lights to go on so that he could watch us open our Christmas gifts.

Even though there was so much love, there was also a lot of brokenness, so I did not easily accept the love of God into my life. The summer before I went to Bible college I went through something of a “dark night” experience and came out of that experience feeling loved by God. This started me on a journey to understanding that I was God’s beloved daughter.

Q: How has that shaping formed your approach to ministry and in particular your call to pastor? This idea of being a child of God began to shape my life and my ministry. I began to understand all people as precious – children of God. It is amazing how different my life became when I started to live in love rather than living in constant fear.

When I was living in love I found that I could be brave and courageous. I learned that I could be authentic and vulnerable. I learned that I could follow the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than act out my fears. Living in love gave me the freedom to live into the questions of my faith and not provide myself or others with easy, shallow answers.

Q: What would you like to say to women who may be feeling a call to ordained ministry? Thinking of some of the young, gifted, well-formed female leaders I know, I would say to those considering ordination to pay as much attention to your spiritual formation as you do to your theological education. Spiritual formation is not an add-on.

Instead of rushing through seminary perhaps consider slowing down the course load and learning how to spend time with God alone. Perhaps you could consider an Ignatian retreat or go to a hermitage for some silence. You could consider getting a spiritual director or a counselor to help you with your emotional and spiritual struggles.

You are an awesome woman called by God to first of all be His beloved child. Out of your belovedness you will help others to understand who they are.

Bernice’s Picks

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Equipping Grandparents: Helping Your Church Reach and Disciple the Next Generation

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Praying the Scriptures for Your Children: Discover How to Pray God’s Will for Their Lives

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