A call to ministry – Margaret Whyte
We’re thrilled that 18 new diocesan readers will be commissioned at a service in Dromore Cathedral on Friday 21 September. It’s a varied group of people, all of whom have successfully completed the 2 year training course, and each with their own sense of call to the reader ministry.
We’ve asked several of them to share their journey. First up we hear from Margaret Whyte from the parish of Kilmore & Inch.
I grew up on a farm a little more than a mile from Christ Church Kilmore and I could never have imagined the impact that this church and several of her rectors would have on my life or the amazing journey God had planned for me.
I come from a Presbyterian background, but we didn’t attend church on a regular basis. Following my marriage, my husband and myself worshipped in many different churches never feeling we belonged to any. Accepting an invitation from Revd Mark Taylor to attend a special service in Kilmore Parish, we both instantly felt that this was where we should be. I truly felt that God had led us here.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Canon Jonathan Pierce who became rector in 2003 and who was an amazing encouragement to me on my faith journey.
He organised Bible study, provided instruction as I prepared for confirmation and also supported me as I trained for Parish Reader.
It had been an amazing privilege to serve in the parish these past nine and a half years both as Parish reader and in prayer ministry.
I had always ignored the call to advance to Diocesan reader, having only ever passed my driving test I felt I would be unable to consider all that was required in study even arguing with God that this was not for me, but God had another plan and as I read Philippians 4:13 (For I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength). I felt God was saying don’t worry because the power we receive in union with Christ is sufficient to do his will.
I met some amazing people at CITI and while it was really tough to complete all that was asked of me, with lots of prayer and support from so many including my rector Stephen who has been so encouraging throughout this journey, I have come out the other side.
I now look forward to continuing to serve in my parish and the Diocese, taking the message of hope and salvation found only in Christ Jesus to all people.
Margaret