I did not think ministry leadership was for me. I was mentally and emotionally abused within the church for 14 years.
I was discouraged by Christian women that becoming a pastor or holding any ministry role was not a financially stable life choice. As a young woman myself, anxious for the approval of others, especially those I considered leaders, I bought into their narrative that the only option for me was as an early childhood educator, even though this was not where my heart belonged. From childhood, I’ve always held a deep passion for missions. Even still, I enrolled in a teaching program at a local college in Maryland, knowing it didn’t feel right.
Thankfully, God was not content to allow me to walk down any path other than the one He had placed on my heart, and I followed the Holy Spirit’s leading to go on a mission trip to King’s Castle, El Salvador, in 2022. Praise God! It was there He reaffirmed my calling as a missions pastor and again reminded me that my future, in Him and for Him, did not lay with teaching. I still struggled with fully believing and embracing what I was hearing and experiencing, still thinking that ministry leadership was not for me. As I continued to struggle internally, keeping the call I had received from God to myself, my youth and young adult pastor kept discussing Ascent College with me throughout the trip.
Even as I decided to choose Ascent College because I felt God directing me here with reason and purpose, I still was not thoroughly convinced ministry leadership was for me. Over time, God has revealed His plan for me more and more, with Ascent College growing into the perfect fit in His perfect timing. Ascent College has provided so much for me. Hands-on learning experience through my church under the Spirit-filled guidance of my youth and young adult pastor, learning from those I have known for years while also learning under new professors who equip and empower me with new insights. The flexibility offered to students at Ascent College fits seamlessly into my everyday life – I can study whenever and wherever. I can see clearly now that when God appoints, He will direct. God directed me here to Ascent College because God always exceeds our plans. I am continually learning to seek God first and always, asking Him what He wants for my life, especially when others attempt to make plans for me
I now serve as a pastoral intern at my church and am pursuing my Bachelor of Arts in Ministry Leadership with a concentration in Intercultural Studies. I have since returned to El Salvador and plan to do so again in the near future. I cannot wait to see where God leads me in the mission field. As my Ascent College profile boldly states, “Let’s make heaven crowded!”
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”
I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
Isaiah 6:6-8 (NLT)
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