The School of Sacred Ministries Story

In 1997, I became consumed with the desire to become an interfaith minister. At that time the closest interfaith ministry school in existence was in New York. I knew I would not be willing to travel that distance to attend classes on the weekend after a full five-day workweek. None of the other interfaith ministry schools that I had inquired about throughout the country resonated with me. What was I to do?

I had just completed a three-part program called the Curriculum For Living. The last part of the program was Self Expression and Leadership, which was designed to help each one of us create a community project and to address whatever fears we had along the way. The words from our facilitator over and over again were “don’t get off the train.” I still remember her parting words on the last day of the seminar, “Now you each know whatever you desire you can have. If it’s not available in your area you now know you can create it yourself."

Those words came back to me one Sunday morning as I was finding a seat before the church service at Pebble Hill. Still feeling driven but not knowing where to turn, I began to pray for help. I witnessed synchronicity at work when Rev. Susan Richmond stood up to share during our service. Susan, who was ordained in the Interfaith Seminary in New York, shared her experience with us and ended by stating that she was still feeling incomplete.

I mustered up all my courage to approach Susan after the service and asked if she would be willing to help me and our minister, Rev. Gary Culp, start an interfaith ministry school at Pebble Hill Church.

The rest is history. We worked diligently for two years researching and planning. Susan’s background as an interfaith minister was invaluable to us. We were also gifted with whatever talents we needed by people who came and went. The three of us moved steadfastly onward.

We knew we were being guided by Spirit and that we were instruments of a Higher Power. Whenever we met an obstacle we prayed for help only if it be Divine Will for the interfaith ministry school to come into existence, and the obstacle would dissolve. We witnessed many miracles along the way, increasing our faith in a Higher Power as we experienced powerful lessons in surrender.

I learned within the first month of working with Susan that she was terminally ill and was told she had six months to live. She not only lived longer than six months, but also became the first administrator of the School of Sacred Ministries. Along with Rev. Gary Culp, she ordained the first class and lived to see the next group of ordinants through their first year. In all, Rev. Susan Richmond lived well beyond her original prognosis. I’m convinced that her love for the School of Sacred Ministries and our students kept her alive those extra four and a half years.

At the time of this writing, our third group of students is halfway through their training. Any of our school’s ordinants can tell you of the excellence of our instructors and the bonding and support they’ve experienced during their two-year training. Each class is unique and special. It is with great love and pride that these students are ordained to go out into the world to be of service.

Reverend Beverly LaRue