revealed 18 July 2024
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The homecoming of Rev Alex McCallum, Oban minister who has began a brand new life as a minister in Argyll.
Regardless of the Belfast accent which is a legacy of rising up in his mom’s hometown throughout the water, Mr McCallum has deep household roots in Argyll – even when he was really born in neighboring Dunbartonshire.
He was baptized in his father’s hometown of Inverness and returned each summer time to go to from Northern Eire.
So, when he noticed the chance to tackle his first parish as Minister of Wards and Sacraments in Argyll, regardless of his preliminary resistance, accepting the decision was the plain alternative.
Talking as a part of the month-to-month Speaking Ministry characteristic on the Church of Scotland web site, Mr McCallum stated: “We got here to Oban only for a go to, and from the primary assembly we felt it was a superb match for everybody.”
“An enormous a part of it was the welcome we acquired as a household. The congregation felt prefer it was our house earlier than they even stepped foot in our church. And so they have been wanting the imaginative and prescient I used to be in search of.
“I believe even on the best way house, my spouse and I and the youngsters knew we might find yourself right here. We had an actual sense of calling and coming again to Argyll by Inveraray, it felt like coming house for me.”
Referred to as since childhood
Now residing in Oban Manse as minister for Kilmore and Oban, connected to Tyree, the place he lives with spouse Adele and Eva (13) and Finn (9), he has come a good distance since his first expertise preaching a sermon. Solely 16 years previous.
“Which was terrifying and nonetheless haunts me to today,” he admitted.
“Nevertheless it reaffirmed that sense of calling in me. It occurred as a result of one in all my faculty superintendents, who was a very religious Christian, requested if I might give a chat at his church about religion from a younger man’s perspective. It was the primary time anybody had actually confirmed that. That there was one thing there.”
His ministry ambitions have been placed on maintain as he determined he wanted extra life expertise earlier than he may start a profession in ministry, so he returned to Scotland to check on the College of Paisley, resulting in a virtually two-decade profession in varied roles. within the care sector.
Life was good. He was married, with a superb job, a house, and a household, however nonetheless that decision to ministry was within the background.
“I spotted I wasn’t completely satisfied and one thing was lacking, so I informed my spouse I used to be going to use for the ministry,” Mr. McCallum recalled.
“It was an enormous leap of religion, leaping into the unknown and being a scholar once more with two younger kids relying on you, however all through the coaching course of, God at all times supplied, not simply financially. Many had their prayers answered in numerous methods.
“It was that braveness and the willingness to confess it. And, if you admit it, you are simply letting God take management. When you try this, you notice that God will open doorways for you and it is as much as you to take motion. by.”
An island parish
Mr McCallum additionally oversees the island of Tyree, a four-hour ferry trip from the mainland, which brings its personal distinctive challenges.
“It is new for Tyree as a result of they’ve ministered on the island prior to now, so it is making an attempt to be artistic in our ministry there. That is most likely one of many hardest components of the position, to be trustworthy, particularly at occasions when you possibly can’t be there when somebody dies,” he stated. stated
“My parish assistant, Emily D’Silva, and I now every exit as soon as a month to guide worship on Sundays, and the congregation themselves lead worship with our help. We’re additionally establishing a stay stream in order that they by no means have to look at only one service. Recording and At all times get one thing extra stay and interactive.
“Tiree goes by an actual interval of change and we’re actually making an attempt to interact the group in the way forward for the church. It is an island with a wealthy religion, and we do not wish to lose that.
“The query is nurture it.”
‘A pleasant problem’
9 months into his first stint as parish minister, he admits there have been challenges, however he would not have it every other manner.
“It has been a unbelievable 9 months,” he stated.
“I have been amazed by individuals coming again to church, new individuals coming and other people coming again.
“Church attendance has grown considerably and our youth ministry has grown. I now have about 25 youngsters who come alongside.
“I take no credit score for it. You are simply preaching the gospel and trusting God to do the remainder, feeling referred to as to do what you are referred to as to do, and having a little bit enjoyable with it.
“It is a fantastic problem. It is one thing completely different day by day and I would not even name it a job. It is one thing you are referred to as to and I really feel very lucky, blessed and lucky to have the chance to be in parish ministry. Amongst all of the complaints I have been in A parish minister.”
Learn extra on our Speaking Ministry web page.
