God Broke Through
Nursing — it has been my life for more than 30 years. I’ve had wonderful nursing jobs, intensive care, coronary care, case management, and research cardiology. And yet, it seems that every job I’ve had I wanted to do more. Of course, I wanted to be a better nurse, but it was much more than that. I felt God’s nudging for years, but tried to ignore it.
I was the convener of the East Ohio Chapter of Methodist Federation for Social Action and very active at my church, Pleasant Hills UMC. A laywoman at my church kept talking to me about going into the ministry. I didn’t want to serve a church and be responsible for all those meetings and buildings and financial campaigns. I tried to convince God that my call was to be a good nurse, an active lay person and work towards social justice. But as time progressed I knew that God had other plans and was trying to get my attention. Each time I heard a pastor tell of their call, I felt a nudging. I attended ordination at annual conference and felt the strong presence of God around my shoulders during the altar call.
As part of my responsibility on the (former) Cleveland district mission committee, I evaluated a parish nurse program and found out that the parish nurse co-led healing services, made visits, taught classes and co-led retreats. I felt the presence of God during that interview. “You can do that, Linda!” I began to think that maybe parish nursing was "the more." Maybe when I retire I could be a parish nurse!
As usual, God had other plans and the nudging continued. At the last conference of the Cleveland district, our superintendent, Rev. Dan Drew talked about going to seminary and sitting next to a retired school teacher and I felt and heard God say “you can do it too Linda.” It was at that point that I gave up. When I told God that night that I would accept God’s call as a deacon I felt a deep sense of peace, it was as if I suddenly lost 50 pounds. The stone had rolled away — I was taller, I was lighter, I was free!!
It’s not been an easy journey. I left my secure hospital job, attended Methodist Theological School in Ohio, became a parish nurse and experienced budget cuts. For months, I was living on 10 hours of work per week.
I am now a parish nurse — at three churches — and love every minute! I work at Old Stone (First Presbyterian) in downtown Cleveland, Westlake UMC in an affluent suburb of Cleveland and Broadway UMC in an urban Cleveland neighborhood. I help the people in all of these churches on the journey towards healing and wholeness, share the love of Jesus Christ and serve as a bridge between the people inside the walls of the churches I serve and the people in these communities.
Rev. Linda McGowen, parish nurse, Westlake UMC and Broadway UMC
North Coast District
