Bonnie Canizaro

I was called into the ministry when I was 13 years old. People said, 'Isn't that sweet?' I got a letter from one of the head honchos in the Baptist church that said they understood I would like to be a part of Christian ministry - he did not say called by God - and they suggested that I become a church secretary, or a foreign missionary, or marry a pastor. The Presbyterian Church did not accept women pastors until 1980, and by that time I had children at home. I didn't get to seminary until I enrolled in 2004. I was a certified reading specialist - that was my early career. I've been a pastor for about 20 years. I was the pastor of the Trinidad Presbyterian Church about 15 years ago, and then I served in Batavia, Ohio. I got my doctorate at Austin Seminary. I'm now in Pueblo, Colorado. Throughout my life, I've been overlooked and unappreciated, so I know what it's like. It's become my ministry to reach out to people and let them know what I tell people all the time: Do you realize that God has said, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love?' So if anybody says to you, you can't do this, you're not worth it, why should I pay attention to you, just tell yourself, who's smarter - them or God? That reminds us that we are deeply loved, more than we can imagine.