Vicar Jacob – God’s Call Answered
More about my journey …
Towards the end of high school, I showed some interest in possibly studying to become a pastor, but I did not follow this up – although the idea of only working on Sundays was appealing!!
While I completed my Bachelor of Health Science, I boarded at ALC, which is one of the ways that God shaped my faith – I was in a community of many young Christians, and also got to know the Pastoral students. When at ALC I tried to get to Chapel when my studies and workload allowed, which was followed by morning tea. One morning over a cuppa I bravely said that I had no pastors in my family, so I was safe – and it was mentioned to me that I would make a good pastor. So, I wasn’t quite as safe as I had thought!
After this many people commented to me that I would make a good pastor and asking me when I was enrolling. I kept saying that I wasn’t sure about it and that the Church needed good lay people too and I could contribute with music.
After finishing my degree in Health Science, I did a bit of work in the field, but didn’t really find my niche. I was offered full-time work at the ALC Refectory. My sense of call strengthened over the years that I worked in the Refectory, and a variety of people continued to encourage me to study at ALC. My response changed from “no, that’s not for me” to “yeah, next year.” That was the line for a couple of years. It was always “next year.”
In 2018 I had quite an experience of God’s protection when I was up in Cairns during the wet season. I went swimming and somehow I got caught in the current, although the water was not very deep. I then realized that I was going to bump through the rapids and down the waterfall. I prayed to God to protect me and my head as I bumped through the rocks. It was a very real possibility to me that I might not get out of this one. I was then caught under the pounding water at the bottom of the waterfall, and once again prayed for a breath of air. At the last moment, I got half a breath of air. I then had to swim across the canyon to a rock plateau before I went down the next waterfall. After giving a thumbs up to my aunt I then had the challenge of climbing out of the gorge (without my glasses or shoes!). At the top there were no footholds to get me over the edge, so I dragged myself over with my elbows. Amazingly, the only mark I had on my body was a small mark on my left leg. Psalm 91:11-12 came to my mind immediately: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
As time went by, I continued to say that I’d work another year before starting studies. But God had different plans. On the Sunday evening on the 2018 Ordination service I was sitting with some friends who were over for Ordination – they asked if I was enrolling and I said “No, I want a good story and if God wants me he’ll have to make it clear” and one of them responded with “Well, when God wants you, He’ll get you there regardless”. The very next day I was made redundant.
It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off of me when I finally enrolled. Since studying I have enjoyed delving into God’s Word and learning how to share this with others. My vicarage at the Goulburn Murray Parish has been particularly enjoyable, and perhaps my favourite part has been making connections with so many people and walking with them on their journey.
