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My pastor's wife Schelly, my pastor Colin Peverall and my brother Bill Holland
September 14, 2022
Why Ordination?
In 2014 I met with my pastor to discuss ordination for ministry. This was a huge step for me. For years, decades really, I had felt that I did not have what it took to be a pastor and I believed that if God wanted me to use the gifts, he had given me he would send me or open opportunities himself, that did not include being a pastor. In the beginning that is just how it would occur. I would be invited to speak at a friend’s church or on behalf of a friend in the ministry. The difficulty would always arise when I informed folk that I was a lay leader/speaker not an ordained minister. So, it became important to me to let folk know right away that I was not ordained. This way I would not seem deceptive or misleading. Most of the time that meant that I was not requested to return to preach. I was requested to sing again but not to preach.
Pohick Bay Church is a Home Church, where I was ordained, among family and friends
I knew God had gifted me to sing so I sang with the Carter Gospel Singers for many years. I also sang solos whenever asked. I even volunteered to sing to help out in special occasions. I still sing as often as opportunities come. It is a part of my service to the Lord. It is not a career it is just how I serve and worship.
I knew that God had gifted me to preach and teach. This is not a brag or boast it is a gift of God. I definitely was not born with the ability to sing and preach and teach. These were given me by God. In my early walk with the Lord, I was able to do all three of these as a lay leader/speaker in Woodlawn United Methodist Church.
Friends: Brandon Farlander, Daniel Peverall
Daughter in law Sylvia, my eldest sister Emma Levins
From left to right: Bill, my sister Audrey, her husband Hugh Smith, Friend Ronnie Teel, nephew Chris Gordon
As a young believer, many of my acquaintances would try to convince me to become a minister/pastor. I was convinced that I did not have what it took to be a pastor and therefore I never seriously looked into the requirements.
Something changed my thoughts on becoming an ordained minister in 2012. I was asked by the sons of a great friend of mine to conduct their dad’s funeral. All they wanted to know was if I had ever done a funeral before. They were following their dad’s desires in asking me. I think at least one of them thought that I was an ordained minister. At any rate it was what Dwayne wanted. On the day of the funeral, I overheard the question arise of whether I was a minister or not. Fortunately, the two sons were intent upon fulfilling the request of their father and did not care whether I was ordained or not. After the funeral however, I had to examine the question that had often been a stumbling block. “Should I seek ordination?”
I had to consider the many times that I was not able to return to preach because of the lack of credentials that seem so important to so many. After many years of being used by God and not being used for long periods of time. I began to seriously consider the possibility that I may be able to do more in ministry if I were ordained. I also had to consider what more I could have done in ministry if I had been ordained?
By 2014, I had completed an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree toward becoming a teacher in the public-school setting. But I had done nothing to further the possibility of preaching, teaching and singing for the Lord. When I spoke with my pastor it was part of a series of enquiries to see what was required in order to be ordained.
Emma, my brother Richard in blue, my brother Robert in white. Richard's wife was present but is not seen .
The young lady with long curls is Chris' wife Alisha, Emma, Bob who is our main family spokesman, Bob's wife Dorothy, my nephew Brandon Highsmith.
My oldest son Kaan Canturk, his wife Sylvia, my youngest son Jeremy Holland
“Why is ordination a requirement?” That had been my mantra for a very long time. I think that in a way I was too fearful of the responsibilities that are associated with being ordained. You become a person who is expected to possess great knowledge, great wisdom, great patience, great character and so much more. It still concerns me that I may not measure up to what I ought to be as a minister of the gospel.
And yet there is another part of me that says, it is God who ordains and sends. No piece of paper will change that.
So yes, I am an ordained minister and I have the photos to prove it. I do not feel any different. I am pretty much being treated the same. I still hear poorly in my left ear. I am and always will be a learner first. I am compelled to share what I have learned. Now as an ordained minister any impediment that might have existed before is now removed, hopefully. It remains to be seen what future opportunities the Lord opens.
You could not see Jean Teel in the other picture. She is the 2nd from the right in this picture.
Brandon, my niece Denise Highsmith, Schelly and Colin.
The two ladies on the couch are my friend Isabel and my sister in law Donna Holland. Donna is Bill's wife.
I am grateful to the Lord for his great salvation and I thank him for his gifting. It is my prayer that I will walk worthy of his calling to do his will.
It is official, and I filed the papers immediately
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