We are continuing the series of stories celebrating our soon-to-be Reverends as we head towards the ordination weekend on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June. Today's story comes from Jon Ruddock.
How was Jon called?
I had a Christian upbringing, with my dad as a vicar in various towns in the East of England. After a degree in chemistry, I trained as a mental health nurse, working in many health settings. For the last 15 years, I’ve run primary care, mental health and substance misuse services in prisons across the country.
I was about 24 when I found God for myself and met my wife Fiona soon after. We’ve two children, Anna and Jacob. I’ve held a few roles in church: churchwarden, small group leader and evangelism lead, but there were two things which really changed my journey.
Firstly, our family started going to the New Wine Christian summer gatherings. I thought it might be a bit of a waste of precious holiday, but I was wrong. Spending an intense week each year praying and worshipping led me to make a commitment to pray for at least an hour a day (I’m quite goal-driven!). Experiencing God became normal and the need to respond to Him grew.
Then, my vicar asked me to preach. Was he out of his mind? There was no way I was going to do that. No one would want to hear from me, but I preached anyway. I couldn’t bear the thought of passing up an opportunity if, by some tiny chance, God wanted me to. I tried so hard to hear from God as I prepared. The day was terrifying, but I did it. Then again. I started to feel at home in front of the lectern, while at the same time believing that I had no right to be there.
One day, listening to a sermon on giving, I heard an almost audible voice saying, “It’s time to give me your time, not just your money.” This had never happened to me before. I burst into tears, knowing that our family’s path was going to change in some way. The discernment process followed, and three wonderful years at St Mellitus Theological College.
It will be an absolute privilege to continue serving God as curate at St Paul’s in Dorking. I feel in no way ready, yet I choose to trust my family and those friends who seem to believe that this is the right path.
Overall, I choose to humbly trust God as I step out of the boat.
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8