Gabby Christie : My Leadership Pathway
My leadership journey began when I was in high school, volunteering as a Sunday school teacher and in college, leading some high school girls in my church.
For about a year, I began praying about God’s call on my life to ministry. I knew I needed to be obedient to trust Him and take that leap into ministry. I hadn’t actually pursued a ministry degree while in college, so I didn’t quite know the right route to take. I searched for internships and residency programs. When I happened upon Leadership Pathway, I noticed there were opportunities at churches all across the country, including Verve Church, where Vince Antonucci, the founding pastor of my home church in VA Beach now leads. That was all I needed to know that this was a trusted path to pursue, getting the hands-on experience I needed to learn and do ministry for a long time.
I am currently a Student Ministry Resident at Landing Place Church outside of Denver. Yes, I made the biggest move of my life from VA to CO! I’m having so much fun learning all that it takes to be in full-time ministry. I realize that I’ll have challenges along the way, but I’m fortunate to have a great leader who is guiding me through those moments. I also have a community here that is helping me make the adjustments needed in a totally new environment.
If you’re a senior leader of your church wondering if residency is a good option for you, I’d say that it is such a great opportunity to help the future generations get a first-hand experience into ministry that can’t be learned in a classroom. It’s also an opportunity to bring in someone new with a fresh lens to your ministry. It’s a mutual benefit to both you and your future resident.
I’m Gabby Christie, and this is my leadership pathway.