• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
ChurchPlants

ChurchPlants

Looking to plant a church? Find free ideas on how to get started, church planting tips, and establish a strong healthy church. Browse now!

  • Teams
  • Growth
  • Leadership
  • Strategy
  • Finances
  • Free Downloads
You are here: Home / Articles / Never Say Never: Answering the Call to Pastor

Never Say Never: Answering the Call to Pastor

July 24, 2023 by Susanna Alio Articles, Leadership

Here’s how I answered the call to pastor.

“Me, a pastor? Never!” I threw my head back in laughter at the thought. “I will never be a pastor. I see what they go through and the sacrifices they make; it’s not for me!”

Never say never.

I grew up in a Hispanic church and came to Christ at a very young age. I knew God was real and I wanted to love and serve him. I got married and had three wonderful kids. I helped my husband with his auto repair business and served at Vineyard North Orange County Church in the food pantry ministry, handing out Bible studies to our Hispanic community and offering prayer. We eventually started to offer a Bible Study to continue to disciple them.  

Answering the Call to Pastor

A few years later, the Elder Team of the church learned of a conference about Spanish-speaking La Viña churches and sent me to attend.

There, I saw passion. I saw a move of God’s Spirit. During the last day of the conference, I was up front praying and I heard the Holy Spirit whisper in my heart, “I want you to be a pastor. 

I thought, “Please, no! Pastors get thrown under the bus all the time and that is just not for me.” 

I’m embarrassed of that now. I wish my response to answer tthe call tp pastor would have been, “Of course, Father. Your will and not mine.” I resisted and put it out of my mind.  

Yet, while on the plane ride home, I got my notebook out to look over everything I had heard and seen and I felt like God was downloading a blueprint for a La Viña church plant to me. 

I could plant a La Viña within our church and ask for full autonomy. I could use the facilities and infrastructure to disciple Hispanic people to love God and serve him within the community. 

God said, “I have given you all of these gifts so that you can make disciples and leaders. Go and do it.” I ran to the bathroom and had, what I call, a Holy meltdown. 

I said, “Lord, I’m not asking for another job. My plate is already full.” When I calmed down, I said, “God, If you want me to do this, there are several things that have to happen. My husband has to agree, the Elder Team has to support it, and I have to be able to complete the Vineyard discernment process for planting.” I was confident that one of those things would keep me from going through with this ridiculous idea.  

I got home and spoke to my husband. He asked how everything went at the conference, and I told him what God had asked me to do. His response? “Oh, Honey! I think that’s great.” I was shocked! I was depending on him to bring me to reality and remind me of my responsibility to our teenage children and our business. 

Pages: Page 1 Page 2Page Next page
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter

About Susanna Alio

Susanna or “Susie” grew up in a Christian home and her parents pastored a church in Tijuana, Mexico. Susie was ordained in 1998 through her previous church and later earned her Certificate in Biblical Leadership at Vineyard Institute. Her vision is to raise up leaders in this church and enlarge the kingdom of God in this community. Susie is married to Joe and they have three adult children, Daniel, Michael, and Mariah. Joe and Susie also own Integrity Automotive in La Habra.

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Church Planting Jobs

Search Here

Christian News Now

Enter your email for tips on how to have a thriving church!

Footer

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Service
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Get Email Updates
  • Christian News Now

Copyright © 2025 ChurchPlants

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Service