My Statement of Call (May 2016)

I have discovered that my life purpose is to abide in God, seeking continued sanctification through faith in Christ’s redeeming love so that one day I might become perfect as God is perfect. Paul’s declaration to the Athenians in Acts 17:28 that “In God we live and move and have our being” best describes the assurance of my place in the Mystery of God’s revelation of God’s Self. Psalm 139 reminds me that indeed, God has known me since the beginning of my existence. As my life unfolds, my gifts and graces will continue to be revealed, so that I will be centered body, mind, and spirit on Christ.

My mission in life is to hold open sacred space for those who suffer to meet God and find healing. I have been given the gift of a multivalent spiritual experience which God uses to support and comfort those who are in physical, emotional, and/or spiritual crisis in both Christian and Interfaith settings. This gift, as well as my gifts of leading, teaching, writing, preaching, and administration will be applied in a ministry that nurtures souls and prepares them for the work of the Holy Spirit.

As I live out my purpose, I am guided by these values:

Respect:             Honoring the viewpoints of others while maintaining a steadfast foundation in my own faith in the healing work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Relationship:       Initiating and nurturing positive relationships with others while encouraging relationships between others and God.

Creativity:            Using the creative gifts given me by God to introduce, encourage, and support the redemptive work of Christ in myself and others.

Freedom:            Respecting the freedom of Christians, Methodist and otherwise, to practice as they see fit, as long as the core of their practices remain true to the Gospel. I find a directive in John Wesley’s adage, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.

I have a vision of myself as a valued “spiritual midwife,” meeting the sick, the worried, the frightened, the lost, and the mourning in the place where they are, providing a safe environment for the birth of hope and joy in the midst of their suffering. By providing a compassionate, empathetic haven, I will be a reflection of the love modeled by our Lord Jesus in his worldly walk. As well, I hope to be a light which awakens those who sleep to the presence of God’s prevenient grace, thereby making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

--  Suzy Jacobson Cherry