Leslie was one of the first people I remember meeting at the first convocation I attended in NT-NL. She was serving as a Synodically Authorized Worship Leader (SAWL) in Abilene – a place I didn’t know nor did I imagine visiting there. She was not a candidate for ministry yet then. I didn’t really know what a SAWL was, but Leslie was an interesting woman. I mainly remember all her tats, and that she wasn’t quite sure she belonged.

Boy, has she come a long way. She not only belongs, she is beloved. She is beloved by her congregation, by her seminary classmates, and by her colleagues. Heck, one of her classmates came from Arizona to be part of this day for her.

I have come to know Leslie well thanks to my work with Candidacy. She has grown by leaps and bounds in these few years. Today was the culmination of that time and growth. This is the best part of my job. Well, one of the best parts.

It is an honor to work with people like Leslie. It is a joy to celebrate with her. It is a blessing to the church to have her as a leader.

The turnout for this day is an an indication of how much she is respected and loved.

And the party isn’t bad either!