I answered my call to ministry six years ago and became a licensed local pastor in Mississippi. During this time, I began my academic journey at Asbury Theological Seminary and have completed 83 out of 96 credit hours toward a Master of Divinity degree. I have also accumulated 60+ residential hours and plan to seek a Doctor of Ministry in the future. Once I complete my degree in 2024, I plan to go before the Board of Ordained Ministry in the NMAC with the intention of becoming a provisional elder prior to ordination. Currently, I am appointed as a Licensed Local Pastor in the New Mexico Annual Conference after moving my candidacy from Mississippi last year.
Pastorally, I have a deep love and care for my congregations.
In previous ministry experience, I oversaw a large youth and college ministry program with 120+ students and 50+ volunteers while successfully navigating the challenges that came from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition to my specific ministry area responsibilities, I took on the work of an associate pastor once licensed and was trained in administrative leadership, budgeting, and pastoral care as part of my preparation to become an ordained elder. I worked directly with the other pastors who mentored and coached me in all things administrative while also developing strong pastoral and worship leadership skills. I assisted in worship planning, committee oversight, team management, regular hospital visits, one-on-one parishioner meetings, officiating weddings and funerals, administering the sacraments, and preaching
Now as your Senior Pastor, I hope to bring together all of these elements-experience, training, education, and passion- in order to move St. Paul's forward.
I also served as co-chair of the Youth Ministry Network of NE Mississippi, during which time I was responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing youth ministry strategies and events for several thousand students, volunteers, and other church leaders. After serving in this capacity for four years, I began to discern the calling to church planting, church revitalization, and fresh expressions. In 2021, I was appointed as the Fresh Expressions liaison for the Mississippi Annual Conference. In addition, I was appointed as the planter for Cyclesia, a Fresh Expression of church that met in an indoor cycling studio, and to a three-point charge in which I was tasked with developing a youth ministry program, regular preaching. administration of the sacraments, and fundraising.
As an administrator, my favorite words are effective and efficient. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, equipping teams to function in their healthiest capacities and staying focused on the tasks at hand by accomplishing them in a timely manner. Pastorally, I have a deep love and care for my congregations. Since coming to St. Paul's last year, I have sought to provide pastoral care, worship leadership, and creativity in reaching those in the church and in the community. Now as your Senior Pastor, I hope to bring together all of these elements-experience, training, education, and passion- in order to move St. Paul's forward. I feel a deep sense of calling to St. Paul's and desire to see a fresh movement of the Spirit as we grow in unity, stability, and reach
Blessings as we take our next steps on this journey together.
May the peace of Christ be with us!
Pastor Mary
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