We are continuing to celebrate our soon-to-be-Reverends, who are being ordained this week. We are sharing two stories a day in the lead-up to the Ordination of Deacons service on Sunday. This morning’s story comes from Cassie Cowan.
How was Cassie called?
I came to faith quite dramatically when I was eighteen, having grown up in a very challenging family situation, but with some links to a local non-denominational church. Shortly after coming to faith, I felt a strong call to minister to those on the margins and began working with young people at risk through various projects and roles, eventually working for the local council supporting vulnerable families across the borough.
Throughout my work life, despite having incredibly rewarding roles, I always felt a frustration at not being able to share the hope of the gospel with those I worked among, knowing that this was really the life-changing message that they needed to hear. After my second child was born, I felt the need to seek God about this frustration and felt Him calling me into ministry. I began working for our church at the time, which was still non-denominational, but eventually ended up working for an Anglican church, which is where I began, much to my surprise, to sense a call to ordination.
My discernment journey felt, simultaneously, like a call to priesthood and a call to the Anglican church. A key moment for me was reading Stephen Cottrell’s book ‘On Priesthood’. I had wanted to read it to understand what Anglicans believed about the priesthood, not considering for a second that I might be being called. As I read it, however, page after page described my heart and my passions and what I had always carried since coming to faith at eighteen. I sensed that God was calling me and I found that terrifying. My incumbent was an incredible support during this time and gently encouraged me to attend a vocations day, which I did with much trepidation. This event confirmed for me what I had been feeling and I began the formal discernment process.
Four years on and nearing ordination, my husband, children and I are excited for what’s to come. I have been reflecting on the story of Jesus calling Peter out of the boat (Matthew 14:28-29) and how Peter’s confirmation to see if it really was Jesus was if He would ask him to do something scary and impossible.
I would encourage anyone, whatever your background, if you feel a sense of calling and it feels scary and impossible, consider if it might be the Lord and have courage to take the first step.
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus.
Matthew 14:28-29