Jill Gooding is one of the new deacons being ordained at Guildford Cathedral on Sunday 2nd July and shares her story of being called to church ministry.
"I had just started a new medical job in a hospital when I experienced the call to ordination. It came totally unexpectedly and suddenly, while I was at work, in fact just after all the hospital chaplains appeared on my ward at once! I heard the call very clearly but was in total disbelief and had no idea what to do. I spoke with a close Christian friend, who encouraged me and asked me what I planned to do about it!
But I had been through a hugely busy period in my life, leaving little time for God in it. God gave me this verse soon after, that remains close to my heart: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10), God drawing me back into a closer relationship with him.
I did very little about the sense of call for several months until the gentle nudge from God became a full-blown shove – it was like trying to holding a curled spring that just had to break free. I spoke to one of the church ministry team and the journey began."
Find out more about the ordination services taking place this year.