Debra Cato, MDiv, Class of 2009

My story is more about God than it is about me.  It was God who led me on this journey called seminary - a path that I never would have imagined going down. 
 
For some reason unknown to me, I felt like I should go to seminary.  I honestly didn’t know why I felt called to go to seminary because I knew God was not calling me to pastor!  But I couldn’t ignore this desire God put in me so I took a step of faith and applied to Fuller Northwest with the intention of getting a Masters of Theology.  Much to my amazement, I was accepted and I took my first class fall quarter of 2003. I took another class that winter and spring quarter but I couldn’t afford to take classes again for a year.  Something changed in the year that I was unable to attend Fuller.  God spoke into my life and I knew he was calling me to pastoral ministry.
                 
Thanks to a generous donor, I received a scholarship that allowed me to graduate with a Masters of Divinity in June 2009. I passed all my PC(USA) ordination exams and completed my chaplaincy internship this past summer.  I am currently serving First Presbyterian Church of Hoquiam as their Temporary Stated Supply Pastor.  I'm in awe of God's faithfulness!  This call allows me to pastor a small church in a wonderful community while I continue to circulate my Personal Information Form and discover where God will call me on a permanent basis.