Choosing faith as a vocation

By Daryl West

12/12/10

Jason Apicella

In high school, Jason Apicella had to write an essay about what he aspired to be when he grew up. He picked three careers: teacher, minister or forest ranger.

Even early on, Apicella knew he wanted to do work that would help others.

And during one summer in college, he had the opportunity to try a mix of his interests, working as a chaplain in a national park, leading Sunday services and checking in on campers at their sites.

Though he didn't know that ministry would later become such a large part of his life, he always had thoughts about his faith.

"It was this inner, spiritual connection that I felt prior to my connection to a particular church or denomination," he said.

Though he went to church with his grandmother on Sundays near his home in Watertown, Conn., organized religion wasn't a central part of Apicella's youth.

It was during his undergraduate years at Central Connecticut State University that he got involved with biblical studies and connected with a pastor at the First Baptist Church of West Hartford who gave him not only guidance, but the opportunity to preach and see what ministry was all about. "Being involved helped me realize what my passions were," said Apicella.

Apicella graduated with a degree in education, but wanted to combine his passion for teaching with ministry, and went to Wake Forest University for his master of divinity. Now 27, he's studying for his third degree, a master of sacred theology at Boston University.

His motivation, he said, "was both grounded in theology, in experience, and sort of that inner connection to God--and that desire to contribute." Through his various internships and working for different organizations, he determined he was the right fit for ministry.

"I came to realize that it is through the church that I can best make my contribution to the world."

His research at BU has focused on how to create inclusive church communities that are open to people with cognitive disabilities and "making the word of God accessible to them."

He balances the academic study of theology with hands-on work as a youth minister at the Federated Church of Norfolk, teaching Sunday school and creating opportunities for kids to become active members of the church.

"I think more youth would be more involved if they are able to take more leadership positions and more ownership of what they're doing," he said. He's encouraging children to read scripture during the service or lead the children's group in song.

Apicella said his journey finding his faith and his path in life has been fueled by the freedom he was given to test and explore ministry during college. As he continues his work toward ordination in the American Baptist church, he wants to offer other youth that same opportunity.

Mike Nilon

Mike Nilon still didn't feel like he'd gotten that call from God when he started divinity school at Harvard.

But after conversations with his fellow classmates, who had had similar experiences of a less than clear path to ministry, he realized the road didn't always have to be straight.

"My sense of my discernment has been very gradual. It's been one thing after another that has led me to believe and trust that this is the right path for me," said Nilon, "And I've had experiences that I would call conversion experiences, but there's been tremendous amount of work in between those experiences that's been just as convincing."

Nilon grew up attending a United Methodist/Presbyterian church when in Gainesville, Fla. singing untraditional songs with spiritual messages, like the Grateful Dead's "Ripple" in the youth choir, and taking part in summer community service projects. And though he was required by his parents to attend church, some of Nilon's most positive experiences, he said, came from his participation in the youth choir and the support of both his Sunday school teacher and his choir director.

As a student at the University of Florida, he said he rarely attended church, and felt more spiritually connected going out in the woods. Towards the end of college, Nilon began practicing meditation informally, finding it as a way to clear his mind.

He had thought about ministry off and on as a potential vocation, but didn't think he was "made of the right stuff."

A few years later, as a Peace Corps volunteer with his wife in Cameroon, West Africa, he worked at a youth center, educating young people about health and good decision-making. Throughout his Peace Corps time, he had the opportunity to experience a variety of religious traditions--from magic and the occult to traditional funeral mourning rituals. He returned home even more curious about his religious life.

His initial thought was to study religion, get his PhD and teach. But during his second year of the three-year divinity program, Nilon started exploring the possibility of working in a religious community. He also continued experiencing a variety of spiritual practices, from Tibetan Buddhism meditation, to an interfaith contemplative group that did "circle practice," a Zen Buddhism tradition that combines meditation and discussion.

"The most powerful thing for me is a greater degree of acceptance of what my life really is--seeing the value in good things and bad things. [Meditation's] given me the ability to be receptive to other people to a greater degree or in Christian terms, having a greater ability to love people for who they are," he said.

Nilon believes meditation practice is beneficial for all faiths, allowing a deeper connection between the body and the mind. He wants to share what he's learned with the community at the United Parish of Auburndale in Newton where he's the new director of youth ministries.

Fresh out of divinity school, Nilon, 32, has been in Newton only a few months, but has already begun to understand some of the issues facing the youth he's mentoring, namely, the highly competitive academic nature of the town. He wants to create a place where youth can come without worrying about academic pressures and just be a part of the community.