Amy Hollis was ordained into the Christian ministry yesterday afternoon in a beautiful service in Essex. It highlighted Amy's love of butterflies and rainbows and her creative nature. Her husband Scott and her two daughters, Katie and Sarah took part in the service. Judy Allbee, our Executive Minister, preached a message that touched on some powerful points including "Never Say Never!" and "Love is the answer to every question."Amy grew up on the West Coast but she landed here after college. She and her husband Scott started a family and by 2001 they had landed in Essex at the Baptist Church. She immediately got involved. Not only was she active in church affairs, she also got involved in our SUNL Association and ABCCONN. In 2004 she began the journey up to Andover Newton to pursue her M. Div. In 2006 sh came to us and we called her as our student minister. Then last summer she accepted a position as the Associate Pastor at First Baptist West Hartford.
Last month Curt Brockway and I attended her ordination council and we were among those who voted to unanimously approve her ordination.
In our tradition an ordination doesn't magically change a person. There is no mystical gift that is given to make you a super Christian or endow you with super powers. The ordination is simply a recognition by the church that God has given you certain gifts for leadership in the body of Christ and the call of God on your life s visible to all. That was certainly true with Amy.
She blessed us in her time at FBC. She was so enthusiastic, her ideas were inspirational, and her creativity was engaging. I shared our best wished with her yesterday at the service as I brought greetings from our congregation. I think we should feel blessed that God used us to help shape Amy's ministry and that we received as much as we gave.
Keep Amy in your prayers now and I will try to give you regular updates on what she is doing and how God is using her.
Cal
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