Dr Ruthlyn McLarty had no intention of becoming a pastor, but the calling was so great and the confirmation from others became so frequent that she decided to go into ministry in 2010, while pursuing doctoral studies.
Prior to this decision, things were cloudy, but Dr. McLarty said there was always the urge to minister.
“Even when I go out to do my own business or I go to pay bills, I would be in the line and I would lead people to Christ, I would be talking to them about their soul and about the coming of the Lord; so I know that there was a strong calling upon my life,” she told the Freedom Come Rain.
In 2008, she pursued doctoral studies, which she completed in 2014. She and her husband, Desmond, then started their outreach programme, Family Restoration and Empowerment Ministries International, in 2010, after she was ordained, and then the Kingdom Covenant Family Church four years ago. They were able to relocate to their own building in Braeton, Portmore over a year ago.
Dr. McLarty’s life as a pastor has been rewarding, but the vocation does come with some challenges.
MINISTRY IS NOT WITHOUT TESTINGS
“Ministry is not without testings and trials. It is a process, and you learn and you improve, and you do better. The church is a group of people and it is supposed to be a family, and when you are dealing with people, it is never easy; it can become complicated because you are dealing with the most complicated species that exist. So it is always that you are learning and you are coping and you are improving, and the Holy Spirit is teaching, always teaching, and so you have to be open to learn,” she said.
Dr. McLarty has found that ministry has become even more satisfying as she matures. She, her husband, and team take pleasure in serving the wider Portmore community and winning souls for the kingdom. She finds that she has a special calling to minister to families.
“The outreach we have been involved in has to do with family, has to do with couples, has to do with children,” she explained.
She has hosted couples workshops, women’s conferences, children’s workshops, parenting seminars in order to interact with individual members of the family.
“Sometimes I travel and I do international work in churches, helping to build their couple’s ministry, helping to build their women’s department, and speaking to parents as well,” she said.
Apart from being a co-pastor, Dr. McLarty works full-time as the Guidance Counsellor at the Mico University College. She is also head of the Women’s Commission of the Jamaica Full Gospel Association and provides counselling services to youths and those planning to get married.
After serving as a pastor for close to 13 years, Dr. McLarty knows that ministry is not for the faint of heart. Apart from managing the human resources, there is also the need for financial and other resources to meet the needs of others.
IF GOD HAS CALLED YOU, TRUST HIM!
“If you know that the Lord has really called you to do this really special and very important work in His Kingdom, trust him and be steadfast, because there are going to be situations that will test your faith, really test the foundation of your faith,” she admonishes pastors.
She feels every pastor needs someone who can guide them as they shepherd others.
“We are not an island; we all need somebody else to converse with, somebody else to give advice, somebody else to mentor us,” said Dr. McLarty, who has a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology and a Doctoral Degree in Marriage and Family Counselling.
Pastor McLarty is a published poet as well, and you can find one of her poems in this Issue of Rain. It is entitled “He Said” – a tribute to Pastor Viviene Gonzales Matherson.
Dr. McLarty can be contacted at ruthmclarty@gmail.com. Visit her youtube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@WOW-WORDSOFWISDOMINPOETRY