Each Friday Baptist Women in Ministry introduces an amazing Baptist minister. Today we are pleased to introduce you to Brittany Krebs.
Brittany, tell us about where you are now serving in ministry?
I am currently serving as minister of music and youth at First Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee.
Do you remember the first woman minister you ever met?
I met several female ministers as a child. My dad thought it was very important to introduce me to female ministers, and I am certain this helped to shape my call to ministry. The first woman minister I ever experienced in action as a parishioner, however, was Sarah Shelton. She was my pastor at Baptist Church of the Covenant in Birmingham, Alabama. Before joining BCOC, I told people that I felt called to the ministry but that I was not called to pastor. “Don’t tell me women can’t be pastors,” I would say, “but that’s not my call.” After spending a few years experiencing Sarah as my pastor and seeing what it can look like when a woman pastors a church, I began to realize that maybe, just maybe, God could use me as a pastor some day. Now I am a little less firm in my stance about how God will use me.
What is the best ministry advice you have ever received?
When I was trying to discern this crazy call to ministry and panicked about whether or not I had what it takes, a good friend and mentor of mine, Valarie Burton, asked me, “Do you love the church? If you love the church—truly love the church with all her beauty and craziness—then you’ll be just fine.” My love for the church is deep and spans at least four church homes, so when things get a little tough at church, as they are prone to every now and then, I try to take a moment to find that love again, and thanks to Valerie’s advice, I am usually reminded that I am just fine.
What has been the best book you have read lately?
I know I am a little late to the game, but I just finished the Divergent series and couldn’t put them down!