| Retreat gives potential ministers answers
By Michael Wacht
LEESBURG — Nancy Metz, a 49-year-old member of
First United Methodist Church, Cape Coral, was “looking for someone
to tell me, ‘Yes’ or ‘No’…God is or isn’t calling me.”
“I have, in the last year and a half to two
years, felt like I’m being called by God into ministry,” Metz
said. “I need to have a vocation and not just another job, and I’m
realizing ministry is a good fit.”
Metz was one of 210 people who attended the “Is
God Calling Me?” retreat April 26-28 at the Warren W. Willis Camp
here. The retreat was organized by Joe McKechnie, the youth director
at First United Methodist Church, Winter Park, and sponsored by the
Florida Conference Board of Ordained Ministry.
McKechnie is a candidate for ordained ministry
from the North Georgia Conference who is attending Asbury Theological
Seminary’s Orlando Campus. He said this retreat was inspired by his
“passion to help people discern their call.”
Susan Martin, a 55-year-old secretary and member
of First United Methodist Church, Cocoa Beach, is preparing for
ordained ministry. “I was wondering what kind of ministry I could
do,” she said. “I was very relieved to find 200 other people who
were confused and unsure about what they’re called to do. It was
reassuring.”
Workshops provided information about a variety
of ministries, and small groups gave participants the opportunity to
explore and discuss their calling with people of similar age or called
into similar ministries.
The retreat also included workshops on spiritual
gifts discernment and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, which helps
identify personality types. Representatives from four seminaries
shared information about their schools and student life.
Martin said the highlight was the worship
services, led by several Florida Conference pastors and the Miami
District Praise Band. “I came home with such a positive attitude,
and I went with such a negative attitude,” she said. “The worship
was inspiring, the music was wonderful and the speakers were
excellent.”
McKechnie said he originally envisioned the
retreat only for youth. “We had more teens than any other age group…but
I was surprised by the number of second-career people who attended,”
McKechnie said. “The ages ranged from 13 to 67. We had five people
over the age of 60.”
Retreat attendees also represented a diversity
of ethnic backgrounds and many different areas of the conference.
“It was a phenomenal weekend,” McKechnie
said. “…The number of people interested proves there is a need for
this.”
Metz said the best part was meeting the people
who are called or active in ministry. “It was awesome to meet with
people who are asking the same question or questions that I am,” she
said. “I was uplifted and sustained by both the people who put it on
and who attended. I heard people saying it could be done and it could
be done and still have a family when it’s done.”
Metz said she did get an answer to her question.
“What I’m feeling is valid…but I’m still listening to God. As
I go, I’m still listening for direction.”
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