Date: 01 July 2022
The ordination services for 2022 kick off tomorrow. 32 priests and deacons will be welcomed into the Church of England across the two days. Included among the 16 who will be ordained as Deacons are married couple Bryan and Tori Silletti. They share their story of being called to this vocation.
Bryan says, "God called me when I wasn't paying attention and I'm still unclear why me. Somehow Jesus has been working in the mess of it all. I am an American without much Anglican experience, yet He's weaved my passion for church, prayer and a life changed for Jesus and I can only just be me. Two sustaining Bible verses for me are Ephesians 2:10 ‘For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago’ and Isaiah 6:8 ‘ Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” I love to be thought of as God's masterpiece; I can only do His work because Jesus changed me first and continues to change me. The second has been both the song and plea of Here I am Lord, is it I Lord? I keep on asking and His answer is still yes, so here I am!"
Tori also shares her story. "God had been directing my steps towards ordained ministry for a number of years and thankfully, despite my own prevarications, He has continued to encourage me and put people in my path to help me hear His voice and He has never given up on me. At one point Jesus spoke into my life using Jeremiah 6:16 “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’" I was being asked to demonstrate a life of obedience to God and he was asking me to walk in His ways despite me not having done so previously. Jesus taught me that this ancient path of obedience and sacrifice can also bring joy and blessing. I stand here now on the cusp of ordination blessed by the family and friends who have encouraged me to continue this path, excited and nervous of all that is yet to come."
All are invited to celebrate and welcome the candidates at Guildford Cathedral on the weekend of 2nd and 3rd July. For more details, visit our ordinations page. If you feel a calling and would like to explore a path of ordination, please visit our vocations page.