Overview

What would it be like to leave the world of science and engineering to enter the unknown world of being a pastor? What would it be like to leave the attractions of a large city such as Boston, MA and move to the rural areas of Maine? For that matter, what would it be like to enter the world of academia again and be forced to accept that one is now a student and not a professional? All of this and more was part of this minister's spiritual journey as he and his family strove to discern and follow God's call into pastoral ministry and later into chaplaincy. This pastor acknowledges many mistakes especially during his first two years of ministry as a student pastor. He asked for a church and was assigned to three. He didn't think to include any geograpical limits to how far he would travel from the seminary to serve a parish. Actually, United Methodist ministers don't make those kinds of demands. We go where we are sent, but he never expected the likes of Downeast Maine or other parts of northern New England that he was to experience as a pastor. Anyone who believes that she or he is being called into ministry should prayerfully consider that call. However, reading this book may give you pause to consider how unexpected the demands of ministry can be.

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9781466349605

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Rev. Larry LaPierre changed careers in mid-life. It wasn't exactly a crisis. It was moer like the culmination of a 21 year struggle with God. He had been an analytical chemist along with some experience as a semi-conductor process engineer before finally going to seminary. Rev. Dr. LaPierre served nine years in ministry to rural northern New England churches. He then joined the VA Hospital in White River Junction, VT first as a part-time chaplain and then as the chief chaplain for a total of over twelve years. He was board-certified as a chaplain by both the National Association of VA Chaplains and the Association for Professional Chaplains. Chaplain LaPierre has a B.S. Ed. in chemistry, an M. Ed. in counseling, and both an M. Div. and a D. Min. degree. He is a graduate successively of Fitchburg State University and Northeastern University in Massachusetts, Bangor Theological Seminary in Maine and Boston University in Massachusetts. He has published a number of articles in professional journals and magazines as well as a memoir ( Thanks Be to God: A Minister's Memoir ). His interests include spirituality, pastoral care, VA chaplaincy and writing about these subjects.

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