When we migrated to New Zealand in 2011, I thought I would never work in a church again. Not that I have given up my pastoral calling. It’s the uncertainty that moving to a new country presented.
In my first weeks in Auckland, I applied for jobs that fit my best qualification, which is in the pastoral ministry area. I responded to a Baptist church ad looking for an associate pastor.
Fresh from the Philippines, I wasn’t counting on much success, but the rejection letter discouraged me from continuing to apply for a pastoral position.
Dear Jonan,
On behalf of Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Church, we thank you for your application. After careful consideration, we wish to inform you that we don’t believe you are the correct candidate for this position at this time. We wish you every success in your search for a pastoral position.
Yours sincerely,
The Pastoral Search Committee
Our pursuit of a residence visa led us to move to Timaru in August 2012. I prayed that Lord God, if it is your will to let us stay in New Zealand, please re-establish me in your ministry.
We received our residence visa in October 2012. A few months later, my wife and I pioneered the Multicultural Response Ministry in 2013, working in a bi-vocational capacity. I worked as an online marketing contractor for a Timaru asset management consulting firm. The Hopevale Trust supported the ministry we started.
In 2017, I wrote the Ministry Appreciation and Participation Toolkit, an inspiring resource designed to help pastors and ministry leaders manage the ministries and programs of the church.
This month, ten years after arriving and settling at Timaru, I’m starting a new phase of my bi-vocational ministry work. I am still doing pastoral work and online marketing. The significant change is that I am doing ministry full-time and online marketing part-time.
Looking back, the rejection letter I received ten years ago was correct in two ways. First, I wasn’t ready at that time. I learned that landing a job takes more than a detailed CV.
Second, their wish for me to have every success in my search for the pastoral position has been granted. Although I experienced many failed pastoral job applications through the years, there is that one opportunity you will receive that is really for you.
I also realise that when I wasn’t working as a church’s pastoral staff was my preparation and equipping time.
An essential part of the preparation and equipping is meeting and engaging with Baptist leaders who appreciate and value the ministries I am doing.
Indeed, when the right time comes, we bask in His abundance. As Psalm 23:5b says, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
My full-time ministry work takes me to serve two Baptist Churches, Gleniti Baptist Church and Oamaru Baptist Church. I am also applying the pastoral ministry tools that I have created.
Another chapter in my pastoral ministry journey has begun.
To God be the glory for the things He has done!
NOTE: This post was first published on LinkedIn.
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