As a police officer on general patrol, Josh Scherer was used to responding to calls. But a call from Rev Naomi Duke, Minister of the Word at the Parafield Gardens Uniting Church, set his life on a different course. Naomi told Josh that Parafield Gardens had recently created a position of Discipleship Pastor and that they would love him to apply for the role.
Josh, who had been a regular attendee at Tea Tree Gully Uniting Church and Chair of the South Australian Youth Camp Out, describes the call from Naomi as surprising and humbling.
“I felt a call to leadership, but I wasn’t sure in what capacity”, he says.
After praying and discerning his future, he believed he felt a clear call to ministry. In the six weeks that followed he resigned from SA Police, took up his new role, undertook a Period of Discernment and commenced studying towards a Bachelor of Ministry.
Josh says that while things moved quickly, his decision to work in ministry gave him a sense of peace.
“I feel I made the right decision and I am very happy”, he says.
Five years on, Josh has been ordained as a Minister of the Word and has been placed at Gawler Uniting Church.
“It is an incredible privilege to be trusted to communicate and share the Gospel”, he says.
