Carmel began her working life as a teacher before moving into disability services, where she felt God’s call to pastoral ministry. She pursued studies at Baptist Theological College (now Morling Vose Campus) while raising four children as a sole parent. By God’s grace, she completed her training and served four years as Associate Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church before being called as Lead Pastor, a role she has held for the past ten years.

Carmel has four adult children and 12 grandchildren (13 counting one “daughter-in-love” who she cared for during her teen years).