Taking New Steps in Toronto, ON
A recent seminary graduate, Abbie is excited to be discerning her next steps in ministry through the New Ventures Apprenticeship process.
One of our current New Ventures Apprentices is Abbie Lam. A young leader with a positive experience in a local church, Abbie is passionate about making room for others to be fully known and fully loved. She is thrilled to be engaging in pursuing clarity for her next steps in ministry over the coming year as an Apprentice.
Get to know a bit of her story in this short interview.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a 1.5 generation Hong Kong Canadian who grew up in the suburbs of the GTA. Following my recent graduation from seminary, I am currently spending a year as an optometric assistant by day and New Venture Apprentice by night.
Having attended, grown in, and served at one church for most of my life, I have experienced firsthand the blessing that community can be. I am passionate about making room for others in community and helping others make room for God. How I do that best is through my love of cooking, baking, and inviting others to the table to break bread, share stories, and live life together.
What will your New Ventures Apprenticeship involve?
I will be exploring what it might look like to be a witness of God’s peace, creating spaces of rest, and supporting others to live in the wholeness of knowing who they are in Him.
Whether it be opportunities with organizations in the city, informal book clubs, or cultivating spaces of rest for others, my desire is to explore what spaces God is calling me to invest in and grow with.
What do you find most exciting about this Apprenticeship?
I have always been a strong believer in the power of sharing stories. I have started a blog called Making Room to share reflections from my apprenticeship explorations. I envision it to be a space for others to also share their stories of how they are making room for God in the midst of their busy, everyday lives. I hope it will be a place that will be true to its name: making room for learning, encouragement, growth, and community.
What are some challenges you anticipate?
The challenge that permeates much of what I’m doing is an underlying uncertainty as to whether I can handle everything I feel called to do in this season. As I am working full-time at a busy clinic during my apprenticeship season, it at times feels ironic that my vision is of creating spaces of rest. However, I am already beginning to realize that being bivocational challenges me to practice what I preach.
While it will definitely be a juggling act, I’m excited to see how God will shape me through this intersection of opportunities. I really do believe that discipleship is meant to be lived out in everyday life, and I’m excited to see how that might unfold in my own life this upcoming year.
Excited about the new things God is doing through Abbie?
Here are some ways you can join her on mission.
Pray
Abbie shares the following requests:
Pray that as I explore what it means to be a person of peace and creating spaces of rest for others, that I would also lean into the peace and rest of God despite my busy schedule.
Pray that God will invite others to share their stories in this journey of making room with me, and that God will bless, challenge, and encourage us all.
Pray that God will provide all that is needed - prayer support, financial support raising, time, energy, opportunities, etc. - and for an abiding trust that indeed He will.
Pray for the daily reminder that at its core, this apprenticeship isn’t about what I can do for God’s kingdom, but rather an invitation to know my Father’s heart more deeply.
Give
All donations received are processed through Canada Helps and will receive a tax receipt. The funds go directly to the New Venture Apprentice to be used toward their development and ministry needs.