A Light in the Darkness: My Journey into Ministry

I’ll never forget the day Jesus appeared to me. It was unlike anything I could have imagined. Surrounded by a radiant light, He spoke to me clearly and unmistakably: “Come, follow me.” The voice was filled with both love and authority, and I knew it was Him. That encounter marked me forever.

About 12 months later, something equally supernatural happened. Though I was still relatively new in my faith, I was called into ministry in a way I could only describe as divine. Before that moment, I had always longed to serve Jesus since the day I gave my heart to Him—but I had no idea how.

Growing up, I faced constant struggles with learning. I later discovered (in my 50s) that I was a high-percentile dyslexic, but as a child, I had no idea. I simply thought I wasn’t smart enough. Year after year, I failed in school. I was timid and withdrawn, convinced that I wasn’t capable of much. Yet, at the same time, I was rebellious. I resented the unfair discipline often handed out, not realising it stemmed from teachers’ frustrations with my undiagnosed dyslexia. I could never seem to keep up, and it left me feeling inadequate.

When I became a Christian, I assumed my desire to serve God would lead me somewhere behind the scenes, perhaps on the mission field, quietly helping others. The thought of public ministry never crossed my mind—I didn’t see myself as bold or articulate. But God had other plans.

The Second Encounter

About a year after my first encounter with Jesus, I visited a friend in Port Lincoln, Australia. We were having lunch when she stepped outside to bring in her washing before the rain came. I offered to help, but she told me to stay and finish my meal.

As she left, I suddenly heard the same voice I had heard the year before—the voice from the light. It was so clear, I turned my head as if someone was physically standing next to me. “Paula,” the voice said. And then, with unmistakable clarity, Jesus spoke:

“Go around the world and tell people I love them and I’m coming soon.”

There was no room for doubt or debate. I simply said, “Okay.” It was a calm and complete acceptance, even though I had no idea how it would happen. I didn’t argue with Him. I just knew I had been called. I knew that voice was Jesus Christ.

A New Boldness

Shortly after, something in me changed. A fire ignited in my heart—a deep, unshakable desire to share Jesus. Though I had always been shy and hesitant to speak publicly, I suddenly found myself preaching on the streets. It was so unlike me that I knew it had to be God’s power working through me.

Naval ships occasionally came into port at Port Lincoln, a dock town. Around that time, a ship had arrived, and the streets were filled with sailors. I felt compelled to witness to them. To my surprise, some were genuinely interested in hearing about Jesus. I invited a couple of them to Church, and they came. That night, they gave their hearts to Christ.

It was a Pentecostal church, and during the service, people were invited forward to respond to the gospel. Watching those sailors surrender their lives to Jesus filled me with awe. I realised that my calling wasn’t just a fleeting experience—it was a mission God had planted in my heart.

The Path to Ministry

At the time, I was working as a student nurse at Tumby Bay Hospital ( 30 miles from Port Lincoln), a general hospital in South Australia.

This was back in the mid-1970s. Soon after my experience with the sailors, I returned to the city and joined a church. It was there that I met and later married a Bible college student. This led me to Bible college, where I received some formal ministry training.

After graduating, my husband felt called to work with his brother, who was an ordained pastor in the Christian Revival Crusade (CRC) in the State of Victoria. We joined his brother in a town called Sale. I was pregnant with our first child at the time.

I began gaining real ministry experience in Victoria, serving alongside my husband. We travelled extensively, ministering in different areas, and I became increasingly involved in public ministry—a place I had never envisioned for myself.

God equips those He calls.

Though my marriage ended many years later due to abuse issues, God’s calling on my life remained unwavering. What began with a supernatural encounter with Jesus grew into a life of ministry I could never have planned for myself.

Despite my struggles with dyslexia and my insecurities, God proved that He equips those He calls. What once seemed impossible—public speaking, evangelism, and global ministry—became my reality, not because of my abilities, but because of His power working through me.

To this day, I hold on to the words Jesus spoke to me:

“Go around the world and tell people I love them, and I’m coming soon.”

And by His grace, I continue to do just that.

A Journey of Faith: From Australia to the UK and Beyond

After gaining ministry experience in Port Lincoln and Victoria, my journey continued along the east coast of Australia, where I began working with the Assemblies of God (AOG) and another independent denomination.

During this time, I became deeply involved in planting new churches. Through this work, I discovered my true gifts and talents in organisation and administration.

While my husband was more of an evangelist at the time, I thrived in structuring and equipping the churches we planted. I organised Bible studies, prayer meetings, and ministry structures, helping establish a solid foundation for the growing congregations.

Seeing the churches develop and flourish through structured discipleship and teaching, I found great fulfilment.

A New Chapter in the United States

Eventually, the Assemblies of God in Chicago invited us to work with them. We packed up our lives and moved to the United States. It was a significant transition—not only were we adjusting to a new country, but we were also raising our four young children.

In Chicago, I became the worship leader at the Church we were serving. My responsibilities were mainly centred around leading worship, while my husband worked closely with the pastor.

Later, we planted our own Church, starting from scratch. We rented a shopfront, transformed it into a place of worship, and soon saw it grow rapidly to around 100 people. Although it was considered a small church by American standards, it was thriving and full of life.

Radio and Bible College Ministry

While in Chicago, I also had the opportunity to host a radio program for a year. It was a new and exciting experience, allowing me to share the gospel through the airwaves and reach people beyond the walls of the Church.

At the same time, I felt led to establish an in-house Bible college to train and equip believers. With a vision for accessible Christian education, I partnered with Vision Christian University ( connected with the Bible College in Ramona, California) to offer accredited courses.

I became the college’s principal, overseeing its growth and teaching undergraduate students. We were blessed to have professors from Oral Roberts University teaching postgraduate students, adding depth and credibility to the program.

An Unexpected Detour

However, life took an unexpected turn. My husband made the decision to leave our family, which left me in a difficult position. To make matters worse, when he renewed his working visa, he failed to include my name or the names of our children. This rendered us illegal residents in the U.S., forcing us to leave the country.

We didn’t have the financial means to return to Australia, but we could afford to relocate to the UK, where I was originally born. Though it wasn’t planned, it became our new home.

Starting Over in the UK

Arriving in the UK was challenging. Having been away from the country since a baby, I wasn’t eligible for government benefits, which meant I had to find work quickly. To support my children, I took on five different jobs simultaneously, working relentlessly to make ends meet.

One day, while walking down the street, someone approached me and said:

“I feel that God is calling you into ministry.”

At that time, I was deeply discouraged. I didn’t want anything to do with ministry, and I was tired—both physically and spiritually. But God was persistent.

A New Season in the Reformed Church

A few years passed, and I eventually remarried. My new husband was a member of a local Reformed church, which introduced me to the Reformed tradition. Through his involvement, I gradually became part of the Reformed movement.

Eventually, I was invited to retrain for ordination in the Reformed denomination. Although I already held a bachelor’s degree through Vision Christian University in California, the Reformed Church didn’t recognise it. I accepted the invitation to further my theological education to enable me to be re-ordained.

I enrolled at The Cambridge Theological Federation, an ecumenical partnership of twelve institutions with over 300 students from 30 different countries.

I studied there for two years, completing various modules. The second year included an internship, allowing me to gain hands-on ministry experience.

During this time, I travelled 70 miles daily to Cambridge and back home on a round trip to tend to my school-age children. I learned the ways of Reformed theology and pastoral care, growing deeper in my faith and ministerial skills.

After completing the program, I was officially ordained in the Reformed Church.

Ministry in Derby

Following my ordination, I moved to Derbyshire, where I partnered with a ministry colleague. Together, we worked tirelessly, serving the congregation, preaching, teaching, and shepherding the people God placed in our care. He only stayed a year, and I was left with seven churches to pastor by myself.

My colleague and I initially ministered to seven churches, which was an immense responsibility. The work was demanding, and I had to travel extensively, preaching, teaching, and caring for multiple congregations.

However, when my colleague eventually left the ministry, there was no replacement to share the load. The church leadership decided that seven churches were too much for one minister, so they divided the region, assigning me three churches.

Even with fewer churches, it remained a part-time role, which meant I needed additional income. With my background in nursing, the Church offered me a position as a chaplain in the National Health Service (NHS). It was a perfect fit—a seamless blend of my pastoral call and my medical experience.

Chaplaincy in the NHS

As part of my NHS role, I became the head chaplain at a cottage hospital, travelling 50 miles each way—a long but fulfilling journey. Once a month, I also visited the local mental health hospital, offering pastoral care and conducting services. Additionally, I joined a team of chaplains at a general hospital in Nottinghamshire, where I worked several hours a month, supporting both patients and staff.

Twice a month, I also served at a hospice, leading services and visiting patients. The hospice ministry was particularly moving—many of the patients were at the end of their lives, seeking comfort and peace. With my nursing background, doctors often invited me to participate in case studies, offering insights into spiritual care and holistic well-being.

Although this season was profoundly meaningful, it was also exhausting. My ministry was spread across multiple hospitals, churches, and locations, leaving me with very little time at home. Yet, despite the fatigue, I was deeply fulfilled, knowing that I was walking in the calling God had placed on my life.

A Move to Northern England and a Season of Relief

Eventually, I felt the need for a change. I moved further north and accepted a role in a single church. After years of juggling multiple responsibilities, I was deeply relieved to finally have a more focused ministry.

After serving in Derbyshire, I was introduced to a completely different culture in northern England.

The ministry environment vastly differed from what I had known in England’s south or even in America.

There were unique challenges and cultural adaptations to make, but it became a deeply transformative experience. By this time, my children were grown. Two of them had joined the military, while the other two returned to Australia, building their own families and lives. Though I missed them, I knew they were where they needed to be.

Pursuing Further Education

During my time pastoring the seven churches, I had already started working on my Master of Arts in Psychotherapy, driven by my growing interest in pastoral care and counselling. When I moved to the single Church, I finally had the margin to complete my studies.

However, it still required significant effort and sacrifice.

Once a week, I travelled a 200-mile round trip to the university. The long commute was draining, but I was determined to finish. When I finally earned my Master of Arts with merit , it was a proud and rewarding achievement – I was 57 years old.

A Pastoral Heart: Visiting and Knowing the Flock

As a pastor, I firmly believed that you couldn’t truly shepherd people unless you knew them personally. Casual conversations over coffee on a Sunday morning were never enough to understand their struggles, joys, and spiritual needs.

So, I made it a point to visit my congregants regularly. I would sit with them in their homes, listen to their stories, and get to know their families. This commitment allowed me to care for them more deeply and authentically.

Many of the people I pastored eventually ended up in hospital, and because of my strong relationships with them, I was frequently by their side, offering prayers and spiritual support.

Part-Time NHS Chaplaincy

While still serving my Church as pastor, the Anglican head chaplain at one of the hospitals I frequently visited approached me with an offer:

“We need a Free Church chaplain. Would you be interested in applying for the position?”

By then, my Master’s degree was complete, and I had more availability. It felt like a natural next step, so I accepted the role. I was officially employed by the NHS as a chaplain—a significant shift in my ministry journey

Challenging and Sacred Moments

The hospital ministry was vastly different from my previous experiences. This wasn’t a country hospital—it was a larger facility that handled diverse medical cases.

Though they occasionally referred patients to specialists in other counties, they had most services on-site: maternity, pediatric care, surgery, and even an abortion clinic.This aspect of my chaplaincy was particularly difficult.

I had firsthand experience with abortion from my nursing days in Australia. When I was a young nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Adelaide, I had been assigned to the post-abortion clinic. Although I was a new Christian at the time, I refused to participate in the abortion procedures, only agreeing to care for the women afterwards.

Those experiences deeply shaped my pro-life convictions, especially after a personal experience. While pregnant with one of my children, my doctor suggested I have an abortion due to having contracted German measles. I refused. My child was born perfectly healthy, reinforcing my belief that every life matters.

As a chaplain, I frequently ministered to women grieving after abortions. I conducted funerals and baptisms for the babies who died prematurely—including those lost to abortion.

The grief, regret, and sorrow in the mothers’ eyes were heartbreaking. I witnessed the emotional aftermath that many women carried with them—scars that couldn’t be seen but were deeply felt. These moments were sacred, heavy, and profoundly moving.

School Chaplaincy: Reaching the Next Generation

In addition to my hospital chaplaincy and Church duties, I was invited to serve as a chaplain for a private Church of England school. This was an unexpected joy. I loved working with the teenagers, teaching them about faith, hope, and the love of Christ.

Though it was a different setting, I found the ministry deeply rewarding. The students were curious, open, and hungry for truth. I frequently heard from both staff and students that I made “Jesus come alive” for them.

When I eventually left the school, the students hugged me, some even tearfully, expressing how much my presence and teaching had meant to them. It was a beautiful affirmation of the impact of that season.

Reflections on a Fruitful Ministry

My journey in church ministry and chaplaincy was diverse and deeply meaningful. Whether I was leading congregations, comforting the dying, or teaching teenagers, God consistently placed me where I could make a difference.

I saw the hearts of grieving mothers, the souls of students awakening to faith, and the tears of hospital patients longing for hope. Through it all, I knew that God’s presence was tangible—in every hospital room, school chapel, and living room where I shared a cup of tea with a congregant.

It was a fruitful ministry—full of heartbreak, healing, and hope. And I remain grateful for every step of the journey.

After years of ministry, countless churches, and a life filled with travels, transitions, and trials, I found myself in South Wales, UK. Yet another chapter of my life began here—a chapter marked by change, heartbreak, and, ultimately, transformation.

A New Start in South Wales

Following the breakdown of my second marriage—a painful and complex story in itself—I was offered a new ministry opportunity. My denomination recognised my experience and gifts, and they invited me to take on a unique role:

“There’s a church with a community centre attached to it—serving refugees and the homeless. You can be both the pastor of the Church and the coordinator of the center.”

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. I immersed myself into this new calling, pouring my heart into both the pastoral and practical aspects.

The community center was bustling with multi-agency collaboration—I worked alongside social services, unemployment offices, and local charities. Through this work, I became well-known in the town, connecting with people from all walks of life.

In addition to leading the church congregation, I managed paid staff and volunteers, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the community center. It was challenging yet deeply rewarding—a fruitful season of service and compassion.

Spiritual Growth and Expanding Ministry

I established a prayer meeting and a café-style Church during my time in South Wales. My belief in the power of pastoral visitation remained steadfast, and I continued to visit people in their homes, getting to know their hearts, their stories, and their struggles.

After about six years, my denomination approached me with a request:

“There’s a church in a country town, about 10 miles away, without a pastor. Would you be willing to take it on as well?”

I agreed without hesitation. Balancing the community centre with this additional Church was a stretch, but I felt called to do it.

Soon after, I was asked to take on yet another church—this one even further away. The weight of responsibility grew heavier, but I pressed on, committed to serving wherever God led me.

Joining the Methodist Circuit

The first Church I was asked to pastor was a three-denomination church: Methodist, Presbyterian, and United Reformed Church (URC). Though I was originally a URC minister, I soon found myself recognised as both a Presbyterian presbyter and a Methodist presbyter.

The Presbyterians were incredibly supportive, providing fellowship and encouragement that uplifted my spirit. I found similar warmth and community among the Methodists, and it wasn’t long before they invited me to formally join their circuit.

However, with the growing demands. I realised I couldn’t sustain the ministry at the community centre along with my pastoral responsibilities. The Church attached to the centre was also facing challenges—long-standing elders who had been in place for decades were resisting change.

The situation became difficult and disheartening, so I made the difficult decision to leave the community centre role and focus solely on my pastoral ministry within the Methodist circuit.

A Rich and Fulfilling Ministry

I ministered on the Methodist circuit for eight years, serving in multiple churches. The Congregational Church where I was also based was an incredible blessing—the people were warm, welcoming, and generous. To my surprise, they even offered me a book grant, which allowed me to expand my theological library.

Approaching Retirement—but Not Slowing Down

I conducted numerous funerals, weddings, and baptisms throughout my Reformed ministry. I also led Bible studies, launched café churches, and introduced Iona and Taizé services, conducting retreats, creating sacred spaces for contemplation, prayer, and worship.

As I neared retirement age (64), the denomination prepared to transition me out of full-time ministry. However, I knew in my heart that I wasn’t ready to stop.

“God has called me to travel the world and tell people that Jesus loves them and that He is coming soon.”

After retiring, I was no longer able to live in church manses, so I faced the challenge of finding a home. But God provided in a beautiful and unexpected way.

Through what I can only describe as a miracle, I was able to purchase my own home—a place I could afford in Wales. It was a tangible reminder of God’s promise:

“He looks after the orphan and the widow.”

A New Chapter : Giving Up My Protestant Ministry, Embracing Catholicism

Shortly after settling into my home, I was offered a new pastoral role with seven churches alongside a colleague. The ministry was thriving, and I could have stayed another year, as my contract allowed. But during this time, God was stirring something new in my heart.

For years prevously, I found myself drawn to the Catholic Church—its liturgy, history, and sacraments. My growing interest led me into deeper study and prayer. Eventually, I realised I could no longer remain in my Protestant ministry while following this calling.

Stepping away from the ministry was no small decision—it had been a defining part of my identity for so long. Yet, God graciously prepared my heart for the transition. He reminded me:

“Your identity is in Christ—not in what you do.”

This truth sustained me. My identity was not rooted in being a pastor, chaplain, or minister—it was in Christ alone. This revelation became my anchor, helping me navigate through devastating divorces, family tragedies, and changes in denomination and country.

Lessons in Faith and Trust

Now, as a Catholic, I have learned that our identity is never in church systems, because systems change. Although dogmas can’t change, the Catholic Church itself changes—the catechism is revised, practices adapt—but Christ remains the same.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

This understanding brought me peace and stability, even as I let go of the pastoral role that once defined me. Though marked by transitions, challenges, and losses, my faith journey ultimately led me to a deeper, richer faith in Christ.

The Road Ahead

Though retired from protestant ministry, I remain committed to sharing the gospel through a Catholic lens.

My heart still burns with the desire to travel the world, but now, I can do that through the internet. Through YouTube and writing, I am still telling people about Jesus’ love and His soon return.

And so, my story continues—a testament to God’s faithfulness through the storms of life, the call of ministry, and the unexpected path to Catholicism. The Church has given me stability and direction to learn the truth. Through it all, one truth remains:

“My identity is in Christ alone.”