The Real Nicole.

 I’ve just finished reading ‘Post Traumatic Church Syndrome’ by Reba Riley and I found this book really life giving and validating for my faith experience.  You see, over the last few years I’ve been wrestling with the deconstruction of my faith which was so tightly held in my teens and also wrestling with the sense of call to ministry which I feel so strongly, even when it feels like I am so anti church.  Reading this book helped me to have words for my experience over the last few years and in an interview I did for radio recently, I found words to articulate the wrestle I’ve had. I don’t identify as a Christian, not because I don’t believe those things but because that label has been used to do a lot of damage. I am a person of faith. Faith in a God who loves unconditionally, faith in an institution that continues to seek new ways to love and express this good news. Faith in there being Hope, in the life and witness of Jesus and in the institution of the church and hop...

There is a lot going on in the world at the moment.  It seems messy, confusing, chaotic and hurtful.  Asylum seekers without a home, starving and dying in waiting. The outcome of a survey being fought over. Climate change affecting people's homes.  Terrorism and gun violence a daily occurrence.  Young people seeking someone to notice them, young people seeking someone to care, young people crying out. Mental health issues increasing, sexual assault and violence, domestic violence.  War. Poverty. Pain. Hurting. Where is the Love?  We hear the cries but are we actually listening? Do we actually hear the cries of the people around us? Do we hear the cries of the world? Do we hear the cries of the voiceless? Do we hear creations cries? Are we listening to the prophetic voices in our world? As I was driving to youth drop in this afternoon from school, the song 'Where is the Love?' by Black Eyed Peas came on the radio.  As I listened to the ...

Last school holidays I had the pleasure and privilege of telling and facilitating space for some of God's Story to be experienced at NCOH Youth's camp in Walkers Flat on the Murray.  NCOH is the Northern Community of Hope - a church in Daveron Park with a real heart for the community around them, a church for some of the real broken people just coming as they are and experiencing God.  I was there as part of the Access the Story team - speaking out the meta-narrative of God, and to be honest I was pretty excited to have been asked to go because I felt validated by the Access the Story crew as a capable communicator, leader or maybe even just as a leader.  It was an amazing week, of ministry opportunities, of trying things a little out of my comfort zone, of watching and responding to the community and culture and of new friendships and perceptions. My friend and colleague Trav whom I accompanied on camp shared his reflections here . There was a few things I learnt abo...

I often talk about calling and how I so strongly felt called to move to the country to do youth ministry. I talk about wanting to listen to what God has to say about the ministry I am passionate about.  But what happens if the logistics and realities of life seem to be getting in between my calling?  For the last couple of weeks I fasted, 21 days in a Daniel fast. Meals consisting of fruit and vegetable. A spiritual practice I hadn't tried before. I did this for a few reasons. I wanted to learn some disciple in my faith. I wanted to intentionally spend time trying to draw closer to God. I wanted to allow space in my life to hear from God, particularly on matters of importance around calling and the future. I also wanted to pray around the finances of our church as it was in a bad situation.  What did I learn and hear during my fast? Not a lot and quite a lot.  I learnt that while food is a love language and a place which welcomes hospitality; for me it ...

Social media and limited characters for bios has forced us to create an identity in as little characters or words as possible. I often do this with I am statements and statements or words about things I love.  Facebook says:  I am... 22 I am... christian I am.. Known as Muggles, Nicolee-ole, The Mugginator, Miamle and Muggers I am... a Leader, a Youth Pastor, PCW and a Dreamer i am... a friend and a Daugther I am... learning from my mistakes I am... studying a Bachelor of Ministry I am... a child of God Loves God Loves People Loves grapes Loves stationary Loves boardgames Loves teaching and leading young people Loves reading Loves friends Loves good food Loves my church Loves studying Loves worshipping a great God Instagram says: Daughter, youth pastor, Chaplain (PCW), student, friend, dreamer, follower of Christ, born to make a difference Twitter says: Jesus. Community. Laughing. Boardgames. Youth Pastor. Bachelor of Ministry Student. But is this who I really am? Or is t...

I was asked to speak at a Church in Naracoorte in December about how i had been called and ended up in Naracoorte.  I also shared this similar story/message to the campers and leaders at CE Camp. Hello my name is Nicole Mugford, I’m 22 years old and I have grown up in the north eastern suburbs of Adelaide until moved to Naracoorte in February when I began working as the Youth pastor at the Uniting church and more recently in the second semester as Christian Pastoral Support Worker at Naracoorte Primary School. I'll tell you more about my roles later but first let me tell you a bit about my journey to getting here and how God has paved the way for me.  I don’t really have a testimony of a life of sin and turning from it, but I don’t have a story of faithfully growing up in a Christian home either.  My family have had a connection with church for a long time but not regular attenders.  After being invited to a kids club during primary school, my mum built conn...

So I'm a  youth pastor right, it's something that sometimes I say out loud and it still blows my mind. It's something I always wanted to be and I am that now.  I don't know if I'm doing a good job, i thonk I'm doing alright, I might not be as cool or successful as some of my other youth pastor friends but I feel like I'm doing alright.  Last week I went to NYMC Encore which was a day conference for those in youth ministry.  It was a great day and totally worth  coming back the 400kms  to adelaide for the day, I got to see my friends, my family, my support network. But I heard from God too. Both on a personal level and also for my ministry.  One question I am left with after the conference is about young leaders.   Now I would consider myself a young leader. At 21 , I am young, I have been blessed with many leadership opportunities well beyond my years, but in still a young leader . I'm still leading about who I am and my style of lead...

A while ago at church the sermon was about moving in the Spirit and listening to God's leading in our everyday lives.  The preacher went on to talk about speaking out at times when the Spirit calls us to speak out and about needing courage to do it. It got me thinking about how I respond to situations of conflict, to situations where I disagree with what is going on and in situations where there is a lot of questions but very few answers. Often in these situations I remain silence to avoid the conflict or I will walk away from the situation so I am not involved. On reflection I was left thinking; What is my silence in these situations saying? Is it speaking of acceptance?  That I don't care? That it isn't a big deal? I want to use my life, and my voice to speak joy, truth and freedom into peoples lives. I don't have all the answers but when i do know i don't want to miss my opportunity. I've been thinking about what this looks like practically.  I t...

About a month ago we took our youth kids on a night hike.  I am so fortunate to live in such a beautiful place that within 30mins we had walked from our church in the suburbs into the foot hills and were beginning to climb the hills.  As i had thought about the evening earlier in the day and as we gathered as leaders to pray before the youth arrived, i felt a real sense that we needed to take up the idea that "noone walks alone". What did that look like though? Did that just mean physically that everyone had a walking buddy or was there more to that phrase.  As i prayed and reflected i thought about many different things, firstly the physical aspect of the fact that many youth would be coming and not actually have anyone to walk with and the importance of them not walking alone.  But i felt like it was more than that, i felt like this "noone walks alone" was meaning more than just physically walking. I felt like it was calling us to think about the conver...