Local Preacher Series - Valerie Waugh

In the third of our Local Preacher Series, meet Valerie Waugh a very recently fully accredited Local Preacher and a member of Shankill Methodist.  Valerie tells us about her ‘calling’ experience, the training and how it feels now she is fully accredited as a Local Preacher.

“When I first started the preaching course although I knew God had called me to this work, I had doubts and fears and even struggled with the fact that, I as a woman was preaching. This was alien to what I had been taught throughout my early years in a different denomination.

God has shown me that it is He that has called me to do His work and it does not matter what others think. It is God who I trust and obey. 

I have experienced God’s power, His provision, His presence, and His peace during this course.  At times I was very unsure and even doubted my calling. But God encouraged me, He strengthened me and gave me the assurance I needed. This gave me the peace and strength in the pulpit to tell others what He had led on my heart.

During my time in training, I was encouraged by a lot of my friends, supported by my church and the tutors on the course were of great benefit to me. My mentor was always available, and God’s presence has been real.

This course helped me make sense of a lot of Scripture and has improved and increased my own personal study of the Bible.  I really enjoyed the tutorials on worship leading and preaching. It was so helpful to explore the different ways that bring us closer to God as we praise and thank Him for everything and as we worship Him, feeling His presence close. Overall, I feel that this course has matured my walk with God inside and outside the pulpit.

Exercising God’s will in bringing His Word to others, so that they can have a personal relationship, or a closer relationship with Him has brought me a sense of peace, joy and contentment in Him.

It was hard work, but the benefits have out- weighed that by far. I praise God, he brought me through my training, and I look forward to what He has in store for me as a local preacher within the Methodist Church in Ireland.”

“I came into this experience knowing I had much to learn, and I'm blown away by the hunger God has given me for study and for diving deep into His word.

A congregation member sent me a message, she said 'you look at home behind the pulpit', it was so encouraging, and it echoed how I felt...at home, following God's direction.

As a joint church moving towards a covenant church, I have been given plenty of opportunities to practice, with great support from Pastor Wilson, Rev Corrigan and Colin Burrows, a fellow Local Preacher in Training.  That support has been so encouraging in these early days.”

 For more information on the Local Preacher application process and training please visit the website https://irishmethodist.org/ministries-local-preachers