Every Friday, Baptist Women in Ministry features a fabulous minister on our blog. Today we are pleased to share this interview with Anna Burch. Anna IS what a minister looks like.
Anna, tell us about your ministry journey and the places and ways you have served and are serving.
I graduated with a degree in early childhood education and taught first and second grades in the public school system for five years. After seminary and a transition to teaching at my home church’s preschool, I became the minister to children in the church where I grew up. It is a unique experience going from child to youth to adult lay leader to minister within the same church family.
What have been your greatest sources of joy in ministry?
The joy in work definitely comes from my time spent interacting with the kids in my ministry program. They have been on board with the new curriculum changes I’ve made to the program and have been willing to try out whatever activity we are doing to explore the various aspects and pieces of the Christian faith. My favorite moments come from watching them during their prayer station times, when we sing a song that has become their favorite that year during our Wednesday night program called Children In Action. I also love watching the older kids help and play with our younger ones (my kids are really great at this).
What have been the greatest challenges you have encountered in ministry?
My greatest challenge has been the lack of female colleagues. When I taught in public elementary schools, a community of females could be easily found by simply looking into all my neighboring classrooms. I knew beginning my current job that ministry would not be the same. While we are all doing ministry together, we are doing individualized pieces of ministry. I miss the idea of having three to five others close by who are teaching the same thing/grade and being able to share activities, bounce ideas off of, vent, and collaborate with. I miss that community.
What is the best ministry advice you have received?
As a teacher, I kept a “smile file,” but I have had another minister suggest doing the same for ministry by keeping cards and notes of affirmation to reread on the difficult days.