Having lived and worked in cities all her life, Emma will be moving with her family to the parish of Kinver and Enville. This exciting new chapter of a semi-rural curacy will be in contrast to the inner city community she has been in as a church youth and community worker for the last six years.
It’s been a challenging role that has had her mentoring young people, working with families, setting up schools programmes, leading the youth group and everything in between. Her passion and belief is that people know they are loved, they belong and are safe, and these three strands underpin her ministry.
It has been her church family who called her out and affirmed the still small voice that she heard one day. They, along with Emma’s family and friends have supported her through being an ordinand in training, and God has carried her, if not dragged her at times. At no point in Emma’s life did she ever think she would be ordained, but here she is!
Over the years Emma has had a variety of jobs from banking to fostering, and these have taught her the value of relationships. That’s why a cuppa and a chat with people is an important part of Emma’s ministry, because it’s in this simple act that stories are shared and the God of the everyday breaks through.
To anyone wanting to explore God’s call, all Emma can say is DO IT! You might think it’s not for you, you don’t fit, or you don’t have the right skills, but God calls everyone. When he calls you, he calls all of you in all your uniqueness and that is what Emma has come to know through this whole process. So if you feel you are being nudged, talk to someone, pray about it and explore it - you never know where God will lead you.