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And that’s certainly the case for Point Pleasant native Brooke Cromley, who accomplished her ambition of being a pastor in early January. For the past two months, she has worked as pastor of youth and worship at South Parkersburg Baptist Church in Parkersburg.
Cromley described her work as being very busy but fun.
“I love people, and it is people all day,” she said.
And it is the people that make up her favorite part of the job.
“I get to deal with different types of people. I am glad that I get to work with people of all different ages,” Cromley said.
She added that it also is the people who already have given her many good memories on the job.
“I have only been there for two months, but it has been great to work with people willing to try different things and who are on board with me. Through relationship building and watching how they respond, they are willing to make changes together,” Cromley said.
She described her ambition to become a pastor as something she always wanted to pursue.
“I went to Liberty University and majored in worship and music ministries and got my bachelor’s degree in that. I always knew that God was calling me (to become a pastor), but I didn’t know where and when it would happen,” Cromley said. “I started pursuing opportunities in full-time ministry and nothing showed up. Then this situation fell in my lap, and that is how God always works if you trust Him and know it is right.”
Cromley also attributed the people of Mason County as helping her find her way.
“(The community) has always been supportive of me. I want all of those who helped and all of the people who played a role in my life to know how thankful I am to the community,” she added.
Before beginning her work as a pastor, Cromley said worship and ministry was one of her main hobbies. Since her hobby became her job, she described that as being one of the more difficult aspects of her work.
“It is awesome that I get to do my hobby as my job, but it is somewhat overwhelming. Now I need to find new hobbies,” she said.
According to Cromley, her work as a pastor is very interesting. She described the most interesting aspect of her job as the close relationship her church strives to achieve.
“(South Parkersburg Baptist) is such a big church, but we make it have a smaller feel. We have a small church mentality. You don’t get lost in the church, and we care about each individual person. We make it a point to have a small feel in a big environment,” Cromley said.
An active schedule comes with Cromley’s job as pastor of youth and worship. She described a typical day as coming to work at 8 a.m. each day. From there she catches up on e-mails and phone calls. Tuesdays and Thursdays are spent planning worship, and Wednesdays and Fridays are when she organizes youth activities as well as prepares for small study groups.
On Sunday, Cromley does a wide variety of things. She also helps with youth alternative lunch on Fridays, which is where high school students can enjoy a pizza lunch. Cromley described helping with the lunch as being enjoyable because of the interaction between students and the older Sunday School classes who help serve the lunch.
In addition, Cromley does youth group Wednesday and Sunday nights. She also meets with various teams to develop different projects for the church.
Cromley described herself as growing up with many different goals and encouraged people that it is good to want different things in their lives.
“It is okay to have all different dreams, because everything I have wanted to be and pursued has helped me become the person I am to be,” she said. “God puts hopes, dreams and initiatives in us to prepare us to become the whole person we want to be.
“And life is a journey, and that journey never ends,” she added.
It is that piece of advice Cromley has lived by as she continues forward on her life’s journey.
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