When people meet me and discover my vocation, the rhythm of their handshakes slow and perplexed looks flash across their faces. When people call the church and I answer, "Atwater Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Olivia speaking," they often pause, as though they were caught off guard. This isn't necessarily negative; the words, "Pastor" and "Olivia" put together just take a minute to process. I don't blame these people because it took me a while to grasp that concept, too. As a child I felt a call to missions, but that did not fit with my idea of family or involvement in the Parent Teacher Association or my local church. God was patient. It took a few years and a trip to Romania for Him to convince me of His call, but he did, and I said "yes."

Later, my heart began to stir in ways I never thought it would.

God was calling me to preach. What a surprise! It seemed daring, but I was ready for anything. I graduated from high school and headed to Northwest Nazarene University where I received a bachelor of arts in Religious Studies. Then I attended Nazarene Theological Seminary with my husband, Dustin. In 2004, we both completed our degrees. I graduated with a master of divinity degree.

God had been faithful to call me and to give me a supportive husband and a son. Everything seemed to support my call: My family has a rich history in ministry; I've been nurtured by a local church and district that believed in me and licensed me; I had pursued education to prepare to preach and minister in a local church. The only thing that hadn't happened yet was placement in a church. Some congregations rejected me because of my gender and my age.

Time passed, and Dustin and I waited to see if anyone would want a husband and wife co-pastoring team—with me as the preaching pastor. The August after graduation, I received a call from Mel Rich, the district superintendent in Central California. Atwater First Church was interested in us. We interviewed, they called, and we began our journey in ministry with this special congregation.

Does it bother me when people take a second look when I am called pastor? Am I offended when people say, "But you're so young?" Do I feel as if I have to prove myself because I am a female in full-time ministry? The answer to all of those questions is "no." I am not deterred by surprised people. Others' surprise doesn't change who I am or what I am called to be. I am not offended when people are concerned about my age. My congregation members, from ages 3 to 98, call me "pastor" and it isn't just a name—it is who I am becoming.

I don't have to prove anything except that God enables and provides for those he calls, male or female, young or old. To be a pastor takes a great gift of trust: God's trust and my congregation's trust. I respond to these by offering my best for his Kingdom and by being an authentic Christian. Do I deserve that kind of trust? No, but God's grace is helping me to be faithful to his call.

Olivia Metcalf was co-pastor of Atwater First Church of the Nazarene and is now co-pastor at Mt. Home, Idaho, Church of the Nazarene.

Holiness Today, September/October 2005 

Please note: This article was originally published in 2005. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.