Called to Serve

Jennifer Varner was ordained by the CBAC in 2004 but now pastors a charismatic ministry called Wellspring Christian Community Outreach in New Germany, Nova Scotia. Jennifer reflects on a challenging church departure and describes what she gained from her years as a Baptist, before making the difficult decision to pastor in another denomination.

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.

Pamela Estey was ordained in 2005 in Canning, Nova Scotia. She is now the intentional interim pastor for St. Margaret’s Bay Baptist Church. Pamela describes her experience with music ministry, pastoral leadership, camp directing, and chaplaincy. She explains her current interest in addressing trauma in church settings, and muses on why she finds men and women tend to fall into different pastoral roles.

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.

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.

Ruth Tonn was ordained in 2019 following a twenty-year career as a semi-truck driver. She most recently served as Pastor of Families and Community Outreach at Wolfville Baptist Church in Nova Scotia. Ruth talks about the difficulty she faced in securing a pastoral position, despite feeling a lifelong call to ministry and serving in churches extensively throughout her career.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists ofAtlantic 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.

Tammy Giffen was ordained in 2020. She is the church planter and lead pastor of Groundswell Church in Truro, Nova Scotia. Tammy talks about the challenges she has faced navigating her denomination, in which leaders hold divergent views on women in ministry. She emphasizes the importance of mentoring upcoming female leaders, as well as of not placing too much emphasis on one’s pastoral identity.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen 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.

LeQuita Porter is a trained lawyer who pastored at EastPreston United Baptist Church from 2010 through 2019. She was the first female senior pastor in that church’s 168-year-history. LeQuita talks about her journey toordination and her experience with empowering women who have experienced abuse. She also describes the lessons she learned while balancing ministry and motherhood.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen 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.

Sheila was ordained in 2024, after many decades of ministry service. She currently serves as Lay Pastor at Perth-Andover Baptist Church. Sheila talks about ministering in the community, where she is known as the “arena pastor”, and about the encouragement she received from numerous women who ministered though unordained. 

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.

Lois was ordained in 2007 and has served several local churches in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. She stresses the importance of prayer ministry throughout her life, as well as the role of community when there are dark times. She also describes the blessing she felt, ministering to people and families as they face death.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen 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.

Sarah Cogswell was ordained in 2024 and serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Care at The Journey Church in Moncton, New Brunswick. She describes how she wrestled through being called to ministry as a woman and how she has learned to embrace her limitations in order to avoid burnout and remain healthy in ministry.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories ofwomen 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.

Rev. Dr. Joyce Ross was ordained in 2014 at the age of 75. She describes her lifetime experience in prison ministry and early childhood education, vital community work for which she was awarded the Order of Canada in 2002.

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!

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.

Patty Beals was ordained in 2012. For ten years, she pastored the rural Lawrencetown Baptist Church, a church  that had plateaued but under her leadership started new community ministries.

Called to Serve is a Canadian podcast featuring the stories of women ordained by churches within the Canadian Baptists ofAtlantic 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.