Jersey Shore church brings fill-in pastor on full-time
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In her biographical sketch, Pastor Danesta Whaley, or Nessie as she likes to be called, states that her "desire and passion are to continue to serve her Lord in whatever capacity He calls her to, ready, willing and available to HIM and HIS people advancing the kingdom of God for HIS glory."
Earlier this year the Lord called her to serve His people at the Jersey Shore Presbyterian Church and Whaley answered.
It all began last July when Whaley was asked to fill in as pastor at the church for a few Sundays and then the congregation asked if she would be willing to commit to one Sunday a month.
"So, that's how it happened. I'm going along, because I've done that. I've preached at a lot of denominational churches and different churches for a while, but I just thought, I'm just filling in. I'll be here for as long as they need me," she said.
So, for a few months, she preached once a month, but she also reached out to members of the church with prayer and ministry.
Then in October, a woman approached her after the sermon and said that she had been praying that Whaley would be the next pastor of the church.
"I'm like, what? It was quite a surprise," she said, adding, "It was and it wasn't.
Prior to the woman's revelation, Whaley had gone away on what she calls "kind of a retreat" to be alone with Lord.
"So I had done that and two things that He said to me was, He took me to the book of Esther where the scriptures say, "Who knows if you've been called for such a time as this." And then in my passage that I was reading it said that women who want to advance the Kingdom of God cannot be short-sighted. They can't stay in their own comfort. They have to be concerned about the eternal purposes of God," she said.
"So, I circled those two things the He said to me. That very next week is when she asked me and I thought oh Lord, do you really want me to do this and yeah, He did," she added.
Whaley admitted that her new call to ministry at Jersey Shore Presbyterian is unusual because her background is in the non-denominational church having attended City Church for over 50 years.
She is the only non-denominational pastor in the Northumberland presbytery.
As she put it, "I've graced a lot of pulpits, but I felt like He said it's different than just being there and gracing their pulpits. I'm asking you to go and live among them for a season."
Her season at the church began April 1, almost nine months from the date that she began her journey with the church.
"It is a new birth for a new season, for sure," she said.
Her love for the church and her excitement about serving them is evident in how she speaks of her vision for the future.
The congregation is small at the church, but Whaley noted that they are very dedicated and hard working and committed.
"I have become very fond of this flock and they of me. We are taking thing slowly and seeing what next steps the Lord will have for us," she said.
"This church has a rich history and has been a very compassionate and kind church over the years," she added, which is reflected in their mission statement, "To Know, Show and Share Jesus."
Whaley said that for now, she is "getting to know them, loving on them and shepherding them."
Plans are to have a church prayer walkthrough to determine what needs to be changed in the physical structure of the church to make it more welcoming. She said that the goal is to have members commit to doing the work that needs to be done.
"I don't want to just come in and be the one to change all this. I tell them, 'I'm here to equip you.' That's my job, to equip the Saints to do the work of the ministry," she said.
"My vision for them is to first connect within to beautify and update that church and then we're going to go out and beautify the community. Little by little, we will beautify the building even more and this will extend over to the beautification of God's people spiritually," she added.