The pastorate isn't so predictable anymore. As the role broadens, at least one similarity remains: the call to lead the local church.
Over the next five days we'll be running profiles of five different pastors. Their stories point toward a bigger story: God's care and concern for the local church, the only institution designed to represent God's character and work.
These are stories of ministry in various contexts, in the face of various challenges, from people with different perspectives. First up: Willow Chicago associate pastor, Chi Chi Okwu.
Chi Chi Okwu was in the middle of a dual degree MBA/Masters in Public Health program when her father died.
"I hit rock bottom," said Okwu, who had drifted from Christianity after high school. "But I also felt the Lord come to me and say, 'I was here the entire time.'"
After graduating from the University of Alabama, Okwu accepted a job at a consulting firm up north and began attending Willow Chicago, an urban plant of Willow Creek, the well-known suburban megachurch. Okwu was attracted to its downtown location, but didn't see her church community as a future employer.
'My identity drives my belief in the need for multicultural churches where voices like mine can be heard.'
Church leaders did. After three years at Willow, the ministry director approached Okwu to see if she might be interested in serving as the church's connections director and leading its young adult ministry. After a five-month interview process, Okwu left the for-profit world for the ministry.
In her seventh year at Willow, Okwu, 34, is Willow Chicago's associate pastor, oversees community care, and serves as the church's community liaison to the city. The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Okwu is passionate about promulgating the church's multiethnic vision.
"There are not a lot of female black pastors in my circles, so usually my voice is different from many of those I work with," said Okwu. "My identity drives my belief in the need for multicultural churches where voices like mine can be heard." Okwu is passionate about "creating spaces where there's true equality and value given to everyone." For Okwu, a diverse environment is better for everyone.
Okwu also helms the compassion and justice ministry. Her proudest accomplishment: Willow Chicago's three-year partnership with an elementary school in a predominantly African-American neighborhood on the South Side.
Not interested in replicating existing work, Okwu reached out to neighborhood and non-profit leaders about where the church could best address the city's needs. Neighborhood schools lacked community support, they told her. Today, church volunteers tutor, hold dinner celebration for Honor Roll students, take students on business field trips, donate to school supply drives and teacher wish lists, and actively listen to teachers and administrators on how they can best serve the school.
Compassion and justice shouldn't be limited to one ministry; it should be infused in everything the church does, says Okwu.
"We want the school to know that we're here with them and they're not alone," said Okwu. "We want to look at our resources and see how they can serve that community. We don't want this partnership to be an us and a them but a we."
