13 July 2024 | Bracknell, UK [Vanesa Pizzuto]
The day prior to Newbold’s graduation ceremony, Vanesa Pizzuto sat down with graduand Victoria Afolayan for an insightful conversation about healing, female pastors, and God’s unwavering faithfulness.
VP: What made you decide to become a Newbold student?
VA: Well, I first came in as a part of the One Year in Mission and Service (OYIMS) programme. I was studying nursing when I heard about OYIMS, and I thought “okay, as soon as I finish, I want to do that.” The timing worked out, God just kind of ordered it all together. I finished my nursing programme in January and started OYIMS, and I thought, “I’m only going to do it for one year, and then I’ll go back to doing nursing.” That was the plan!
Where did you go on your mission trip?
I went to Cyprus, and stayed there for almost seven months. We were hosting fitness classes on Tuesdays, and Bible studies on Thursdays. And then each sabbath, we would usually help and support the worship services, preaching, and helping with Sabbath School. This would be followed by a fellowship lunch where members and friends would meet and eat together.
It wasn’t long before we started running English as a second language classes for a group of Ukrainians and Russians of whom many do not have a Christian background, which meant that they saw Christianity through us. Our relationships became so strong that by the time it was time to leave, many of them said, “we’ll miss you” or they would give small gifts. God has been so good through that experience!
You are not working as a nurse now. So, what changed after you returned from Cyprus?
I returned home to Ireland, and took time to reflect and understand the decisions I was about to make. I really wanted to know what God was calling me to. During that time, Pastor Atte Helminen invited me to speak at the Finnish Union Teen Summer Camp. It was the wildest and most amazing experience! I was quite nervous while preparing the message. I was thinking, “who am I to do this? Who knows me? I am a stranger!” But I felt God would use whatever He placed on my heart, even if no one knew me.
I spoke about connecting with God in a personal way. And how his love impacts the way we connect with others. Atte asked me to do an altar call. But because my message was translated, I was not sure if it would make an impact. But Atte asked me to share part of my story, my testimony.
As the music began to play, and while the camp counsellors moved to the front, I made the call – not just for baptism, but for those who also wanted to renew their relationship with God. I had not idea anybody was going to respond, and I remember I had this moment in my head with God where I just said, ‘Even if nobody gets up I know that I’ve done what You called me to do.’ I surrendered the response to Him, and then all of a sudden, many young people started running towards the front. It was like an avalanche, and they were all standing there. I was so shocked!
I think this experience helped to seal my professional direction. So, I made the decision that I wanted to return to Newbold. It helped me see that God was leading me and this was not an idea I was just making up.
Tomorrow is your graduation, Victoria. You’ve finished your Graduate Diploma in Biblical and Pastoral Studies. Congratulations! What is next for you?
Next is a Master’s degree which I will be starting in September, praise God. There is a lot of financial support from the Trans-European Division (TED) to make it possible – and I’m grateful to have sponsorship for my studies, because otherwise it could be a bit intimidating financially. There is also plenty of support, especially for women.
How has your experience at Newbold changed you? How has this journey made an impact?
It has changed me emotionally; I feel like it has been healing. Knowing God’s love and realising that He likes and desires the very best for us, that He desires us to be happy in what we are doing, and that He experiences joy when we do, has changed me. It’s been powerful. I think I have more peace at heart and in my mind as well now.
Are you the first pastor in your family? How does your family feel about your new professional journey?
I grew up in an Adventist family and from a very young age I was interested in church and Bible study. I was very active from the beginning. When I was about ten years old, or younger, I asked my dad, “What if I become a pastor?”. But he explained to me, “No, you are a woman. Women are not pastors. You can think of other jobs to do – to help out in the church.” I felt incredibly sad when I heard this.
And there were all those texts about women being silent, and this made me more confused. I couldn’t understand the context of the passages, so I thought I could not speak at all in Church. I tried to be quiet and I did not engaging as much in church, because I wasn’t really sure what to think of those texts or how to understand them.
By the time I was secondary school age, I was just like every other teenager, just kind of living and trying to fit in. I didn’t really think much about the idea of becoming a pastor again. It wasn’t until I was coming to my final years of secondary school that I started thinking to myself, ‘What will I do?’ I thought maybe I’ll become a midwife. Then my mom suggested I should do nursing.
During the Newbold OYIMS programme, I talked over the phone with my dad, asking him what he thought about women as pastors. I kept returning to the topic with him, because now I saw women studying theology and I was talking with lecturers too. One day my dad asked, “Why do you keep bringing this up? Is it because you want to do it?” He was not convinced it was a good idea and tried to persuade me against the idea. But eventually, God changed his heart, and now he is very supportive. Even when I get negative feedback he says, “Don’t worry about them, just focus on what God is calling you to do.”
That is a wonderful story! Thanks, Victoria. Do you have a final comment for those exploring studying at Newbold?
If you want to have a close-knit community where you can connect with other people who have similar beliefs, this is a great opportunity! You can serve, and grow, and learn from lecturers who are well established in their fields. You can ask questions about the Bible, that others may not be able to answer. It is a place to discover new perspectives and connect with God.
[Photos: Vanesa Pizzuto and courtesy of Victoria Afolayan]
