Called to Serve

Called to Serve, the BOOK, is now available for purchase through our website, as well as on Amazon and other stores! Find your copy at calledtoserve.ca/the-book and leave your honest review on Amazon or Goodreads!

Sharon MacKenzie has been serving as worship director and now worship pastor since 2006 at Charlottetown First Baptist Church on Prince Edward Island. She describes the significant influence youth ministry had in her life and the passion she now has for designing worship services and encouraging worship teams. She shares some of the challenges she’s faced in this role, including recording worship during the pandemic, and helping the church adapt to changing music styles and service structures. She also shares her heart for those who might be considering worship ministry as a career.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Erica Corbin was ordained with the CBAC in 2023 at Faith Baptist Church in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. She has since moved her denominational affiliation to the Canadian Association for Baptist Freedoms. In this episode, Erica describes her ministry as a chaplain for the Canadian Armed Forces, emphasizing the ability chaplaincy gives her to walk alongside people and challenge the stereotypes they may have about faith.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Debbie Simmonds was ordained in 2021 at East Preston United Baptist Church in Nova Scotia, where she’s served in many capacities for over forty years. She works as the food hub coordinator for the Preston Area Food Network and has a passion for outreach ministry. Debbie shares her powerful experience of connecting with God while she was in hospital, and describes the ongoing work she does in the community, where she is known as Reverend Debbie.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Pam Schut is Pastor of Children’s and Family Ministries at First Baptist Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. In this episode, Pam describes the effect it had on her ministry when she gained the title of pastor. She also shares her experience of being present at the 1987 vote on whether the CBAC should continue ordaining women, and she explains the importance of sharing even our negative stories.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Carol Ann McGibbon was ordained in 1984 at Germain Street Baptist Church in Saint John, NB. She pioneered urban ministry programs in both Nova Scotia and Chicago, enjoying a long career with SCUPE, the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education. In this episode, Carol Ann describes her deep commitment to urban ministry and social justice, and shares an incredible story about a movement of the Holy Spirit at her examining council.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Maxine Gough was ordained in 2005 and continues ministering today in her eighties. She describes growing up in a segregated Black community in Nova Scotia and her experiences ministering in churches of the African United Baptist Association. She also describes the joys and challenges of attending seminary in her sixties as a blind student, believing that God has called her to serve him in her blindness.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Virginia DeAdder was ordained in 2007 at Hantsport Baptist Church in Nova Scotia. After retiring from a long career in telecommunications, she went on to pastor several rural Baptist churches and continues to provide pulpit supply today. Virginia describes wrestling with a call to ministry because of her gender. Although her faith began with an emphasis on fear, she shares how God has walked with her into becoming unafraid.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email [email protected] by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Joetta Fernando is one of our research associates at Called to Serve. She joined the team in April of 2024 and has been working on data analysis, conducting interviews, and writing material for our upcoming book. Get to know her in this special behind-the-scenes conversation.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Andrea Anderson was ordained in 2019. She has served as Deputy Minister over the Public Service Commission in Nova Scotia, and is currently senior pastor at East Preston United Baptist Church. Andrea talks about her ability to minister in the workplace, and describes experiencing racism in both seminary and the public service.  

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

We are re-sharing an interview in honour of Canadian Baptist missionary Muriel Bent, who recently passed away at the age of 95.

Muriel served with Canadian Baptist Ministries for over 35 years, working as a missionary in the field of public health. She was a nurse, midwife, hospital administrator, and community health advocate who completed a Master’s in Tropical Community Health and toured nearly twenty countries to observe their healthcare programs. After retiring in 1998, Muriel continued finding ways to serve, including selling many handmade mittens through the 323 Collective, in support of the work of CBM. She was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Ministry degree by Regent College, Vancouver in 2007.

Read Muriel’s obituary: https://www.middletonfuneralhome.com/obituary/muriel-bent

Watch an interview with Muriel at Middleton Baptist Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg5hAePwOXc

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada. Between 1954 and 2024, over one hundred women were ordained to ministry in Atlantic Baptist churches and around the world. Our project shares and preserves these women's experiences—the joys and challenges they faced, and the impact they've made through their ministries. Learn more at calledtoserve.ca.

Want to win a free copy of our upcoming book? Email ⁠[email protected]⁠ by March 31st 2026, with the subject line FREE BOOK. Everyone who emails in will receive notification when the book comes out and be entered into the draw.