God Called Me

On May 14, 2022, I received my ordination as a Minister of Spiritual Consciousness. For the past three years I have been attending seminary one weekend per month with a summer break. I attended classes in Maryland, and since I live in New Jersey, this required a three-and-a-half-hour drive. It was 100 percent worth it. I can honestly say that my life is unrecognizable from what it was when I began my ministerial journey at a weekend retreat in the hills of Maryland.

Becoming a minister transformed me from someone who was addicted to limited thinking, operating in an energy of “not-enough,” and believing that I had to keep doing more to be acceptable to God and to others.

Now, I stand here, completely in love with myself, confident in the knowledge that God is within me and expressing itself through me and as me, and that I need do nothing to earn the love of God or the acceptance of others.

My sacred name is: Ambilikile, which means, “God called me.”

The path to ordination was long and often a steep, uphill climb. I am grateful for the love and support of my ministerial cohort—The Sages. There were six of us in my ministerial class on day one, and six of us received our ordination together. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing group of women. Each of us created the experience we needed to make it through seminary during a pandemic. We share a beautiful bond which I will always cherish.

When I was studying to become a licensed Prayer Practitioner, my senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Michelle Wadleigh, used to tell us that in becoming a practitioner, we have agreed to do our healing in public. The same goes for becoming a minister. Being a Reverend does not mean that I am any better or worse than the next person. It does mean that I have yielded my life in service to God. It does mean that in addition to doing my healing in public, I must also conduct my life in a manner that is pleasing to God. My mission is simple: Love God. Love my sisters and brothers.

In the days leading up to ordination, I wanted to find a way to symbolize leaving the “old” me behind as I stepped into the newest version of myself as a minister. I began my seminary path with long locs. I had been hearing from Spirit that I needed to cut off six inches of my hair, which had grown down past my bottom. My teacher, and the founder of Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development, Rev. Dr Iyanla Vanzant, took me aside and told me that she had been hearing from Spirit that I needed to release six inches of my hair. I was in no way required to do so, but having heard it myself and then from Mama Iya, I knew it was time. Around that time, I was talking to my mom, who also heard the message that it was time to cut my hair. In the end I decided to release all my hair. During the consecration ceremony the day before ordination, Mama Iya cut off my locs.

In releasing my hair I was able to make a clean break with what had been, and step clean and fresh into the newness of life. I kept my locs. I have wrapped them in a white cloth in my linen closet. The locs that Mama cut from my crown are on my Ancestor altar.

My anointing is as a Minister of Selfless Service. My tools are love and service, and my purpose is to educate.

After an intense three years of training, I am taking the summer to decompress, meditate, pray, and listen for the guidance of the Holy Spirit about how I will proceed in my ministry. What I would love to do is use art-making and other forms of creative expression to facilitate healing and transformation. SO many people are walking around in pain, feeling lost, lacking direction, or looking for guidance and inspiration without all the religious dogma and guilt. I intend to extend the love of God to everyone who is interested. I can point people back to themselves because each of us already has everything we need within us right now for healing and transformation. All you need is a little bit of willingness.

So, here I am. A freshly minted Reverend who is eager to do what God would have me do and that is to serve the Divine by serving Its people. Please stay tuned for more details about how my ministry will emerge. I am as eager as anyone to see what the Holy Spirit will have me doing in this world. In the meantime, I am always available for prayer.