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 Tom Wilcox.
How was Tom called?
I grew up in a Christian home and have believed in Jesus pretty much my whole life. In 2007, I had a profound experience of the Holy Spirit, which ignited my faith.
From 2015-2020, I lived and worked as a missionary in Japan, serving in Tokyo and Sendai. While on the mission field, I met my wife, Rosa, and now have a beautiful daughter, called Poema.
During my time in Japan, I was involved with English teaching, youth work and the discipleship year program with my mission organisation. We spent much of our time invested in the local church, which is where I first sensed a call to ordained ministry. I was part of a pioneer team planting a new missionary base in Sendai and am passionate about global mission and seeing the next generation raised up.
In Sendai, I began to develop a heart for Church Planting. This eventually evolved into a clear nudge from the Lord to enter the discernment process. We had to move during the pandemic, but God was leading us.
Rosa is a significant person in my journey who heard about my call from the Lord before I did. In 2022, I began training at Trinity College Bristol, which was a formative time of prayerful community, essay writing and long-lasting friendships.
With ministry on the horizon, I am looking forward to starting my curacy and joining in with what God is doing in Farnborough.
For anyone exploring the vocational process, I would want to say this: God is always faithful. If He calls you, He is worth the journey.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
Ephesians 2:8-10