Called to Minister - 6 July 2025

Dear friends of BCUCA common question when having polite conversation with strangers is “what do you do?”  I will often use this as a chance to share the gospel: “I’m a molecular biologist who has since become a Minister in the Uniting Church.” That usually gets people intrigued and asking questions. I realised that in my seven and half years of being at Burnside City Uniting Church I have not spoken much about my own call to ministry. The reading this Sunday gives me that opportunity. I am reminded of my own call to ministry when I read the first part of Acts 16. A young man called Timothy is noticed by the congregation at Lystra and the apostle Paul takes him under his wing to learn the ropes of mission and ministry. Being at Malvern Uniting Church and then at Elm Hall Drive Methodist in the United Kingdom, I was noticed by their church communities and then returning to Malvern Uniting I was blessed to be shown the ropes of ministry and mission by the Rev. Dr. Phil Carr and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Davies. When I needed to seek the endorsement of my application to ministry by the Church Council, I remember distinctly one of the elders reading a devotion from 1 Timothy about the character of a church leader. Ancient instruction from Paul to Timothy about how to lead in his new placement in Ephesus. What a standard to live up to!I hope that you might find something encouraging and helpful in my story and call, and that maybe you can consider or affirm your own call to ministry and mission for the Kingdom of God, wherever and whatever that may be.Your brother in Christ,Benji