New minister hails power of community as she starts her role
Published on 8 March 2024 2 minutes read
A minister who started training for ministry whilst undergoing treatment for Leukaemia has said that she couldn't have followed her calling without the support of her church community and those around her.
Rev Jade MacLean, who is now the assistant minister of Ardgour, Morvern and Strontian with Acharacle and Ardnamurchan in Lochaber, was ordained on 24 February.
Reflecting on her journey, she said "it's been fantastic and it's been really difficult".
"I always felt called to the ministry since I became a Christian but ignored it.
"Then in 2015 I was diagnosed with Leukaemia so after that I thought maybe I should look into ministry and I did.
"As soon as I'd finished my discernment the cancer came back in 2019 so then I had a bone marrow transplant in 2020 before I began my Ministry.
"For this I am forever grateful to my anonymous donor and the NHS.
"All along I've known ministry is what I'm supposed to be doing.
"Along the way I lost my dad and my sister so it's not been an easy journey getting here but I've never doubted that this is what I'm supposed to do."
Originally from Glenelg in the Highlands, Ms MacLean explains that she has always felt called to rural ministry.
"I love being with people and having conversations with people – just taking God out into the community."
More generally the former crofter says that her particular experiences will shape her ministry.
"A lot of the things I've gone through people can relate to and it makes me able to relate to them better too.
"Certainly the person that I was when I was younger when God called me would not be as good a person as I am now in the ministry role.
"Life changes you, it shapes who you're supposed to be.
"During it all it was the communities that I was part of that enabled me to make this journey – the Glenelg community, the Strath and Sleat community, Urquhart & Glenmoriston and then Lochaber communities where everybody has been so supportive in so many ways.
"From financially, to prayers, to just being there and backing me all the way and I couldn't have done it without them.
"I couldn't have done it without the church either as it was through the congregations that I received the support and encouragement that made such a difference.
"I also had the most amazing ministers to train and guide me on this journey "
The avid beekeeper and cold water swimmer says that she has "done everything from fish-farming to teaching" but that ministry feels like she is where she is "supposed to be".
Ms MacLean's advice to anyone who may be interested in ministry is to involve those around you.
"Talk to the people in your circle and trust in your community because they will support you and direct you and be there for you in the good and the bad," she says.
