I had a Moses-like reaction to the call to ministry, as opposed to an Abraham-like one. I did not immediately respond by saying “Yes, Lord! I will drop everything and do whatever you ask!” as Abraham did. No. My first reaction, like Moses, was to question the call. Me? No, you can’t mean me. You want someone better, younger, smarter, nicer. Just as Moses questioned whether God didn’t mean Aaron, the better public speaker, I questioned whether God wanted someone better altogether.

It took an awful lot to overcome my disbelief that God could possibly be calling broken, imperfect old me to the set-apart ministry. It took my entire home congregation of Stone Church as they called me to be Sunday School teacher, worship leader, worship team member, lay preacher and deacon. With each of these calls, I stepped closer to my call to set-apart ministry. And it took long, soul-searching conversations with my pastor, Christy Dowdy, as I struggled to accept what God was asking of me.

It took random people outside my home church. My brother who, when I told him I was thinking of going to seminary, just looked at me and nodded and said, “I can see that.” Bethany Theological Seminary President Jeff Carter’s report on Bethany at Annual Conference 2016 during which he outlined all the ways in which one could attend seminary, including many online options, and all the financial assistance available to make it affordable to all. Since my last conversation with my pastor on this subject had ended with me saying that I just couldn’t afford to attend seminary, either time-wise of money-wise, this presentation at Annual Conference seemed specifically directed to me. As I answered my call, I not only received my degree from Bethany, but I have also connected with Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center through Continuing Education events and serving on the board.

It took a village to speak God’s call to me. Stone Church in Huntingdon planted the seed, many within that congregation and without watered it, most without even realizing it. And it was God who made it grow. I go back to God’s reply to Moses. God didn’t promise to make Moses a better public speaker, God simply said “I will be with you.” I realized I didn’t have to be younger or smarter, the promise that God will be with me is enough.

Mary Garvey is a 2021 graduate of Bethany Theological Seminary, and she currently serves as pastor of the Stonerstown Church of the Brethren in Middle PA District. Mary is a board member of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center and enjoys participating in the Continuing Education events coordinated by SVMC. Mary’s claim to fame is having been a contestant on Jeopardy!