Growing in Wisdom and Stature
Children of the church who have become ordained Presbyterian ministers
Marthame Sanders
Present Ministry
AIJCast, a weekly podcast at the intersection of art, faith, and justice that is one of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities of the PC(USA)
Seminary
University of Chicago Divinity School
Previous Ministry
Oglethorpe Presbyterian Church (Pastor); PC(USA) International Volunteer in Mission in Palestine
When did you feel called into ministry?
My first serious inkling of a call to ministry was after college. Wrestling with what was next in my life, I showed up at Charles Black’s office, asking questions about religion, ministry, and seminary. Fahed Abu-Akel happened to be in the office as well.
When I asked them about seminary, they instead urged me into participation. Rev. Black had me volunteer with a Carver Homes summer camp program at First; Rev. Abu-Akel got me signed up for a PC(USA) young adult trip to Ramallah, Palestine, which members of First made financially possible. I came under care of the Session of First while at seminary. When I was ordained to ministry in Palestine, Rev. Abu-Akel came up to Chicago to participate, and First became one of our core financial supporters in our ministry of compassion with the Palestinian Christian community in Zababdeh in the northern West Bank.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
I will always cherish growing up in the worship pew nestled between my grandparents Alec and Jean Morgan. They would help me find my place in the bulletin or the hymnal, and when I got bored, they always had extra paper for doodling. My youth group experiences were particularly formative, especially the periodic summer mission trips, which I credit with planting the first seeds for my time overseas in Palestine in cross-cultural ministry.
Wes Barry
Present Ministry
Founding Pastor for Waypoint Community Church
Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Previous Ministry
Warehouse242 (College Intern); Providence Presbyterian (Youth Director, Young Life Church Partner); First Presbyterian of Charlotte (Pastor of Evangelism and Administration)
When did you feel called into ministry?
When I was a sophomore at Lovett High School, I accepted Christ as my Savior and was immediately provided leadership opportunities through the youth ministry at First Presbyterian and FCA at the Lovett School. Through my service as a youth elder—at the homeless breakfasts with Charles Black, and mentoring provided by George Wirth—First Presbyterian of Atlanta helped me see the stabilizing force that traditional ministry can bring to a community.
The direct call for my current ministry occurred eight years ago. While serving at First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, I felt the nudge that we needed to take the gospel into the community rather than waiting for people to arrive on our block. It was through a men’s leadership movement called F3 (Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith) that God helped to initiate and grow the Waypoint Community Church.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
The most important memory was during my ordination service in the sanctuary. During that service, Lindsay and I chose to have our daughter baptized before our family, friends, and church leaders. The grace of Christ pouring out upon her and the prayer being laid upon me that evening were the starting points of my mission as both a pastor and a father.
Elizabeth Bradley Kibler
Present Ministry
Associate Pastor of Youth & Program Ministries at Shallowford Presbyterian Church
Seminary
Candler School of Theology at Emory University (with a Master of Public Health from Rollins School of Public Health)
Previous Ministry
First Presbterian Church of Athens (Intern); First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta (Associate Director of Youth and Family Ministries)
When did you feel called into ministry?
Growing up, I had always been drawn to the ethos of the church, and many people around me affirmed my gifts for ministry before I could see them myself. Even when I went to seminary, I wasn’t certain of my vocation, but I knew I wanted to learn more and explore this calling. Ultimately, I felt God squeeze tightly on my heart and say, “This is the direction for your discipleship.” So with joy and tears, I listened to the call.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
FPC was such a formative place for me as a young person. As legend has it, I was the first baby that the Rev. Dr. George Wirth baptized at FPC. This was followed by several years in the preschool, deep involvement in the youth program, service as youth elder, and then returning to my home church in a formal Associate Director role. Some of my favorite memories include forming our traveling and life-giving mother-daughter group at the preschool, serving on countless mission trips, participating in the youth musicals, going through the confirmation process, and building meaningful connections and lifelong friendships.
Sarah Smith
Present Ministry
Minister of Stonehaven Carronside Church of Scotland, Stonehaven, Scotland
Seminary
Columbia Theological Seminary
Previous Ministry
Bannside Presbyterian Church, Banbridge, Northern Ireland (Assistant Minister); Granton Parish Church, Granton, Scotland (Assistant Minister)
When did you feel called into ministry?
The first time I felt called to ministry was while taking part in Youth Sunday at First Presbyterian. Even though I was nervous about doing my “two-minute sermon,” I really enjoyed taking part in the service, and having that leadership role. I enjoyed participating in the life of the church as a youth and then as a young adult.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
I loved the mission trips and the different retreats as a youth. I enjoyed taking part in the youth musicals. I enjoyed volunteering with the breakfasts on Sunday mornings, seeing the joy on the people’s faces who came in to eat and those who came in to volunteer, and hearing Fifield Hall filled with conversations, music, and laughter. I also loved volunteering with different Vacation Bible Schools and hearing the church filled with the laughter of children.
J. C. Austin
Present Ministry
Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Previous Ministry
Auburn Theological Seminary, New York, New York (Vice President for Christian Leadership Formation); Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, New York (Associate Pastor for Evangelism and Stewardship)
When did you feel called into ministry?
First Presbyterian of Atlanta is where I first felt called to ministry. I was very active in the youth group and preached several times on Youth Sunday, after which people told me I should consider seminary. Spending a year as Interim Director of Youth Ministries, along with the generous mentorship of George Wirth, prepared me in wonderful ways for pastoral ministry.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
I could write a book on this question! When our family visited First Pres for the first time, Barbara Cavanaugh was so hospitable that we ended up never visiting anywhere else! I’ve used her as an example of a ministry hospitality in every congregation with which I’ve worked.
My family helped start the first “early” Candlelight Christmas Eve service, and I remember sitting in a room at the church and stuffing hundreds of candles in those wax protectors, which was one of our more unusual family Christmas traditions for years.
But I would have to say my favorite memory is my ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in the sanctuary of First Pres. So many people who had meant so much to me through my life at First Pres were there. I vividly remember the feeling of them gathered around me during the prayer of ordination.
Laura Cunningham
Present Ministry
Pastor, Western Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC
Seminary
Candler School of Theology at Emory University (with a Master of Public Health from Rollins School of Public Health)
Previous Ministry
Congregations in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, as well as outside New York City
When did you feel called into ministry?
I was too young to remember the first point I traced to my call to pastor. My mother, Nancy, tells me that when I was three, First Pres invited a woman pastor to participate in worship leadership. I couldn’t stop talking about a woman wearing a robe; God was up to something!
In terms of a call to preach, another moment came on a First Pres youth trip to the Dominican Republic. I was paired with a member of the youth group from Santo Domingo and sent to a small rural church, lit by one light bulb, where I was the only native English speaker. I didn’t know that I would be asked to preach, with my Dominican friend to translate. I don’t remember what I said, but God was still working.
What are some of your favorite memories of First Presbyterian?
First Pres folks have been a constant inspiration in my own Christian faith and leadership. Staff leaders like Herb and Mary Archer, George McMaster, Sharon Youngs, Trisha Senterfitt, Charles Black, Mary Lynn Tobin, Steve Haynes, and Davison Phillips, and Sunday school teachers and leaders like Jack Stringer, Martha Kollme, Caroline Hooper, Georgia Manry, Dave Drake, Doug and Florida Ellis—too many to name!—are all part of my call and faith formation.
