In the second in an occasional series on people who chose to become priests in mid-life, Sara Westhead talks to Pastor Troy Hassell of Calvary Gospel Chapel and learns that he long felt the call of God on his life to serve in full-time ministry, but always thought that he would head out to the foreign mission field as a teacher. Instead, after the former pastor at Calvary Gospel Chapel returned to home, God began a work in Pastor Hassell’s life which eventually lead to him taking up the mantle as the church’s Senior Pastor.

How old were you when you decided to pursue full-time ministry?

I came to faith in Christ alone for my eternal salvation as a youngster in high school. I understood that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins and that he rose again to give me new life. By the time I was 15 years old, I knew that I wanted to follow and serve the Lord for the rest of my life and even thought that I might be able to serve Him Fulltime. I thought then that God wanted me on the foreign mission field. I went to university with the purpose of studying the Bible along with becoming an educator thinking that I would teach somewhere in the world as a missionary.

What was your previous occupation? Where did you work?<$>

After university, I returned home to make some money before going to the mission field as a teacher. I worked as a salesman for a few years. Then I became a teacher for a few more years. Here, I thought, I was now getting the experience I needed but after a few years I realised I needed more training so I went to grad school to become a more effective teacher, not so much for teaching in Bermuda but really to serve God better anywhere He chose to send me. Returning from grad school with my Masters I took up a post at the Bermuda College as a counsellor for a few more years. It was then that I began to see what God wanted out of my life.

What led you to leave a career and pursue theological studies and full-time ministry?

I was always willing to go and serve God as a foreign missionary but I had reservations about serving as a pastor. When it came time for our then-pastor to leave his post, my Leadership asked who is God preparing for this post. They each asked me to consider if God had indeed called me to such a service i.e. Serving Him as a Pastor. While the leadership confirmed my calling as a Pastor, it was God through His word one day during my regular daily devotions who said you go and serve Me in this way and I will care for your family. In other words God said, “Troy, this is what I have prepared you for. Leave all and follow Me. I will care for your family.”(Proverbs 27>

What was the response of your family? Were they supportive or hesitant?

My family (my wife specifically) said wherever God leads you I will go too because He brought us together and I am your wife. I had no questions from her. I think many were asking questions in my extended family and friends because I finally had a great position that was not only paying the bills but giving our family a life we could afford, living in Bermuda. While serving Jesus fulltime was always a passion, making lots of money was never a passion so it was not hard to say to my Lord Jesus Christ, who gave His all for me, I give my all for You. My kids where not quite old enough to enter the discussion then however, leaving the work place for Jesus and serving Him was not a strange idea to them as we were always involved as a family in youth ministry, teaching Sunday school, and assisting wherever the need was in the local church.

Where did you go to study? How long did you study fo$>

I am a graduate of Word of Life Bible Institute in New York with a Diploma in Bible. I then attended Calvary Bible College and Seminary in Missouri, where I earned my Bachelors in Pastoral study’s with a minor in Elementary education. I attended grad school at Philadelphia Biblical University with a Masters in education with emphasis in Administration and Guidance. In addition, I have my certification as a Biblical Counsellor with the International Association of Biblical Counsellors in Colorado.

What were some of the biggest challenges in leaving the traditional workforce for what some might consider an uncertain future?

The biggest challenge was living in Bermuda. The expense is so great and to afford to live here means you must be able to earn a good wage to sustain a life and a family in this beautiful country. It is also true that the ministry is not a place to get rich in or at least the servant of God should be free from the love of money. When God said “know the flock and I will care for your needs”(Proverbs 27) I believed Him and trusted His Word completely. I can only say with total confidence in Jesus that he keeps His word without failure. God has used His people to protect my family and meet all our needs. I can do nothing else but trust His ca

How did you decide which area of ministry was appropriate for you?<$>

That was decided for me really as I look back because I was planning on teaching somewhere else in the world as a foreign missionary yet God was preparing me to shepherd one small corner of His vineyard.

How long have you been in full-time ministry now?

I believe every Believer is a fulltime Christian and therefore in fulltime ministry certainly to the degree that he or she is a true witness of the life transforming power of God’s amazing Grace in their life. However, I finished at the Bermuda College in December of 1999 and started here at Calvary Gospel Chapel in January of 2.

What have been the greatest blessings as a result of you changing the course of your life?<$>

I have grown so much in my faith it is just difficult to point to one or even just a few blessings. The reason I shy away from that is because I don’t think serving as Pastor is any more special then serving God as a doctor or teacher or lawyer or bus driver or nanny. God has gifted the Body of Christ with all the tools to not only minister to each other but also with the ability to reach out to this sin cursed earth. People every where need the Lord in every walk of life and it becomes the pastors role, among other things, to point believers in the direction or on the path where they are effective witnesses for Jesus. That is the greatest blessing to me, seeing God’s people fully engaged in living the out the Bible passage which says (paraphrased)the world will know you are my true followers when you have love for one another.(John 13:34,35.) and knowing that God used me in some way to help in that process.

Do you have a guiding principle or scriptural passage for your life? If so, what is it?

My guiding principle is the full, complete, and authoritative WORD of GOD, the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.

I do have two verses however, I do have two verses however, that mean A great deal te:

Colossians 1:28 “Him (Jesus) we preach, admonishing (warning) every man and teaching (instructing and encouraging) every man in all wisdom (the WORD of God entirely / completely) that we may present every man perfect (mature or upright or right standing) in Christ Jesus.” That is the mission of Calvary, it ought to be the purpose for every Christian and it is my mission.

Acts:32<$> is the other very wonderful verse to me because it says that God’s word indeed has the answers and is the answer for every believers struggles and for every non-believer who wants to know God intimately: “And now brethren I command you to God and to the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” There are many other Bible passages that encourage me greatly yet above all I desire most that Jesus is glorified in and through me.

Pastor Troy Hassell