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My name is Carla Meisterman, and I am the pastor of Balmoral Presbyterian Church. Let me tell you who I am and about the journey that brought me to serve God and this wonderful group of people at Balmoral.
My Path to Ministry
I grew up in a church-going Christian family. But only after one tragedy as a college student and another much later as a single parent did I really come to experience for myself God’s presence – including Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, especially in times of loss, and God’s pure, accepting Love.
My journey took me from my family home to college and then into careers in business and communications. I worked in hotel management and then in the savings and loan industry, eventually becoming a partner in an “S&L”. My years in Memphis gave me opportunities to work as board member or staff with some great local organizations, including WKNO-TV, Arts in the Park, Memphis in May, and Memphis Theological Seminary. During this time, I had also married and was raising two daughters.
My personal faith and my awareness of God’s presence also grew deeper during this period of time. I started with the basics, teaching Church School classes for different ages, pre-K to adult. My particular blessing was leading Bible studies for Presbyterian women. In return, these women helped me to hear God’s call to ministry. With prayer and with their urging, I entered Memphis Theological Seminary. After graduating from seminary, I was ordained in 1998 as a Presbyterian minister, served in interim and church consulting roles, and eventually was called by God to Balmoral in 2003.
Over the years, I have learned that I am loved – we all are loved – beyond comprehension. I now sense God leading me as I make decisions and solve problems. I still make mistakes every day; yet God forgives me and strengthens me every day. And that is what I call “amazing grace”.
The People of Balmoral
I have worked with a number of churches over the years, and I have found the people here at Balmoral to be among the most accepting and least judgmental that I have ever met. They make you feel special because they see you as a blessing.
Balmoral people grapple with issues of faith and society, which means that we have room for more than one opinion. We do not expect everybody in the congregation to believe and act in the same way. There is an openness here that we would love to share with you.
Two Hours
As I mentioned earlier, I lived for years working in business. I know what it’s like to have pressures and obligations all week long. I know the feeling of wanting to just rest and relax on the weekend. I know what it is like to juggle work and family, as a wife, a mother, and a stepmother. I also know that Balmoral offers an opportunity to really step into the presence of God and to be renewed and transformed, knowing all the time that you are not alone.
The best investment of time that I ever made was to walk through a church door and spend one hour in the company of others worshipping God. Before too long, I added the Church School hour. Two hours. And God began to transform my life. Before long, I found that I hungered for more time in God’s presence and more knowledge of how to walk with God.
I invite you to come and experience the presence of God at Balmoral Presbyterian Church. You will find God in many different ways in this accepting and energetic environment. If you are hesitant to commit two hours on Sunday morning, spend one hour with us in the worship of God. That hour could provide you with a great blessing.
Carla
grace • encourage • power • equip • purpose • energize • people • engage
