Reverend Fiona Calverey to lead her flock to Calvary
“As people grow up in different cultures and environments, God often looks different to them. But, as creation narratives have so many similarities, this is the Holy Spirit drawing people in," says Rev Fiona Calverey.
NEWCASTLE – The Methodist Church has a new shepherd in town, Reverend Fiona Calverey.
Rev Calverey transferred to Newcastle from Gauteng, with her first official service held on December 25.
Since then, she has been embracing her new surroundings.
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“My husband, Dave, and I find the Newcastle community extremely friendly and helpful. You don’t find this type of kindness shown by the church’s congregation and the town’s community in the bigger cities.”
Rev Calverey began her ministry career 16 years ago.
“I am originally from Cape Town. When I was 14, I went to Scotland and finished my schooling there. After school, I joined the Royal Air Force and worked in air traffic control.”
However, after spending 10 years in Scotland, Rev Calverey found her home country beckoning her back.
Upon arriving back in Cape Town, she met her husband Dave.
But it was then that her true calling began.
“I got involved with the church, where I was helping empower women. It was during this time that I felt God calling me into ministry full time.”
She started studying and in 2001, she took up her first church in Diepsloot.
“It was a wonderful experience being part of a cross cultural church.”
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She eventually moved to Pretoria where she presided over a Methodist church.
“When I got the opportunity to come to Newcastle, my husband and I grabbed it immediately, as we have never been here before and loved the idea of being surrounded by the mountains.”
Enjoying the outdoors, Rev Calverey and her husband plan to take full advantage of Newcastle’s landscape with regular walks.
Despite enjoying Newcastle’s scenic surroundings, Rev Calverey is amped to begin her ministry.
“There is so much potential for ministry in Newcastle.”
The possibilities in reaching out to the community forms part of Rev Calverey’s passion for the ministry.
“What I enjoy most about the ministry is connecting with people, empowering them and helping them know who God is through them.”
Another one of her passions is creation narratives.
“As people grow up in different cultures and environments, God often looks different to them. But, as creation narratives have so many similarities, this is the Holy Spirit drawing people in.”
Her aim for the Newcastle Methodist congregation is to create a family bond, which will seep into the community.
“I want the community to see us as a church with a strong family ethos, as churches are family and we learn best from one another,” she concluded.
