Apprenticeship shaped my ministry today

In the spring of 2023, I was working as a high school Civics teacher in Whitby. I loved my job, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else that God was inviting me to do. When I spoke with my priest, she suggested I consider MAP – the Ministry Apprenticeship Program – that a big parish in Toronto was piloting for people like me who were dipping their toes into discernment but were unsure about the financial, emotional and academic commitment of graduate-level theological study. At that point, I wasn’t quite ready to use the word “calling,” and I certainly wasn’t ready to utter the word “priest.” But with her encouragement, I packed up my life, sold my car and moved to downtown Toronto to become the very first ministry apprentice at St. Paul, Bloor Street.

St. Paul’s was like something out of a movie set, towering over Bloor Street with its striking blend of sleek modern glass and old grey stone. With more than 35 staff members, a dedicated chef and a jam-packed Sunday schedule, it was both exhilarating and intimidating. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed, thinking I’ve never worked at a church before and have never even been to seminary. What do I have to offer? But with help from my mentor and supervisor, the Rev. Dr. Tyler Wigg-Stevenson, I was able to see that God had already equipped me with everything I needed to serve and contribute in my own unique way.

Before long, I was trying out all sorts of new ministry experiences: helping to run the Monday night ESL program, making pastoral care visits, hosting a table at Alpha, and planning events for youth and young adults. My liturgical leadership grew as well: I sang in both the contemporary service and the classical choir, chanted the Great Litany, served as an acolyte, lector and intercessor, and even preached at the main Sunday service. Each opportunity stretched me and built my confidence as a pastor and leader.

I am especially grateful for the sense of community I experienced during my year in MAP. I deeply value the relationships I built with St. Paul’s parishioners of all ages, and the different faces of God they revealed to me as they shared their life stories, struggles and joys. We were a small but mighty crew living in the Wycliffe College dorms, and it was exciting to audit seminary classes alongside the students. I loved living in downtown Toronto, and St. Paul’s thriving young adult ministry meant I was never short of friends to explore the city with. We tried everything from indoor lawn bowling to skating at Nathan Phillips Square and grabbing pizza at Eataly.

One of the most formative parts of participating in MAP was being part of the launch team for St. Paul’s church plant, St. George, Grange Park. It was a privilege to join in at ground zero, and I was in awe of just how much work went into preparing for launch day. We had conversations about everything from branding and vision statements to the church’s name, the kind of snacks we would serve after the service and even the colour of the carpet. I was deeply encouraged by the way the launch team prioritized prayer every step of the way. One of my favourite memories from that season was a prayer walk in the neighbourhood around the church. The members of the team went out two by two in different directions and spent an hour walking and asking the Holy Spirit to show us who and what to pray for as we prepared to move into the neighbourhood.

Another of my most poignant memories from MAP didn’t actually happen until well after the program was over. This past Christmas, I was home visiting my family and decided to drop by St. George, Grange Park’s carol service. What I saw moved me to tears: more than 100 young people, many of whom I had never met, worshipping and singing to the Lord. My year in MAP concluded before St. George’s officially opened its doors, so I had never witnessed the church filled with people from the community. To stand there and see it alive with praise was extraordinary. I finally got to witness the faithful work of renewal that God had been quietly accomplishing all along.

Fast forward three years from the first conversation I had with my priest in Whitby, and I am now a postulant in the Diocese of Toronto and halfway through my MDiv at Virginia Theological Seminary. The foundation in prayer, study and service that MAP gave me continues to shape and sustain my ministry today. Within a single year, MAP gave me hands-on experience in Alpha, ESL, music ministry, youth and young adult ministry, liturgical leadership, church planting and preaching to a congregation of more than 400 people. More importantly, it gave me the confidence to say yes to formally discerning a call to ordained ministry.

I am deeply grateful for the Diocese of Toronto’s investment in young leaders through MAP, and I am incredibly hopeful about the ways this program will continue to grow and bless Toronto for years to come.

To learn more about MAP and how to apply, visit www.stpaulsbloor.org. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so candidates are encouraged to apply early. The final deadline is May 31.