If tears are a gift of the Spirit, then the Rev. Dr. Judi McMillan has been blessed. Even if some of those tears have been other than joyful.
What began 20 years ago with tears of happiness when she relocated from Nebraska to Michigan to accept a call as an associate minister didn’t end as auspiciously as it had started. A few years into her ministry, it became clear that her position wasn’t working out, and she left the congregation.
Judi shares that that season was a really hard time. She had been between calls before and now found herself in the situation where she was the sole person providing for her kids with a mortgage.
She reinvented herself by working in a flower shop while being enrolled in interim ministry training. In the meantime, she budgeted out how long her funds would last to pay her mortgage. It was the four most stressful months she’d ever had financially.
Judi called a pastor friend from her clergywomen’s group, and when she told her she was struggling, they met for lunch. “It was one of those times when you feel safe enough with someone that you just cry,” Judi said. “I remember crying and saying to her, ‘I’m doing everything I can.’”
After they had prayed together, her friend and clergy colleague told her that the Christmas Joy Offering could help. Judi recalled, “As a pastor, I knew about the Offering, but I didn’t know it was really for my situation.” It was inspiring to discover how the community of faith is there when people need a bit of help.
The “bit of help” that Judi needed came through the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions, which is supported by gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering. She received a grant that helped in her last month without a call. The Offering also supports Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.
After Judi emerged from the worst of her financial stress, she received a call to become the interim pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Michigan.
Judi wants the Church to see how the gifts of generous Presbyterians have helped prepare the way for her. After several positions in interim ministry, Judi is now pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Bella Vista in Arkansas and has shared her testimony openly with her current congregation.
She says, “I think it’s important to give to the Christmas Joy Offering because it continues to affirm pastoral leadership and leadership of those serving the Church. And since we can’t always predict when we might need financial assistance, knowing that there’s a safety net there is both lived grace and love.”
Share the love! Please give what you can to the Christmas Joy Offering. For as we always say, when we all do a little, it adds up to a lot.
Let us pray~
Gracious God, may we, by your Holy Spirit, share love through our gifts. Take the gifts we will receive and help others flourish through our giving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Gifts to the Christmas Joy Special Offering of the PCUSA will be received throughout December. By giving to the Christmas Joy Offering, you will be providing assistance to current and retired church workers in their time of need and developing our future leaders at Presbyterian-related racial ethnic schools and colleges. Please consider giving to the Christmas Joy Offering in addition to your regular giving. Give online or by check — mark gifts “JOY”.