Andy Hay is ordained deacon
Congratulations to Revd Andrew (Andy) Hay who has been ordained deacon for an internship in St Donard’s, Bloomfield.
Andy was ordained by Bishop David along with Anna Williams at a service in Down Cathedral on Sunday 30 August. The preacher was Ven David Huss, Archdeacon of Raphoe./
Andy’s journey to ordination
I was born in Japan, where my parents were missionaries. I grew up watching my parents work with God, taking risks and often going without as missionaries and later as workers in a Scottish Baptist Church, into which Dad was ordained.
I studied Theology in Aberdeen University and it was in Aberdeen I met Jackie, who turned out to be from Northern Ireland. After graduation, I went on to qualify as a Primary School Teacher.
Jackie and I have two daughters and we live in East Belfast. We have learned that while some aspects of life are not easy, whatever our daily task is, it is part of our work with God. It can involve taking some risks and making some mistakes, but we are a close team and God has given us everything we need, and more.
In 2014, I had a conversation with my then Rector, now Bishop David McClay. This was the start of my exploration of a call to ordination. I had begun to see that those who hurt the most are only restored through the love of Jesus, and when our community begins to act fairly with Him as King. I felt that it was in the Church that God wanted me to be a part of this work.
As I approach ordination as a deacon, I am both nervous and excited. However, I know that God continues to oversee all our journeys and that we are in his hands.
