Many worshippers gathered at West Presbyterian Church on Sunday night to be with their friend and former Pastoral Assistant, Linda Keys, who was 'licensed' for the Presbyterian ministry.

This was a memorable night for them and a genuinely historic occasion for the wider Church in our town. Linda is the first member of West Church, and the first woman, to be licensed by Ballymena Presbytery.

Originally from Bushmills, Linda has lived in Ballymena since the late 1970s.

A former Police Officer, Linda accepted Christ as her Saviour at 40 after going through a really difficult time in her personal life.

She adds: "I was brought up in a Church going family and went to Church and Sunday school. I just drifted away as I became a teenager/young adult and didn't come to faith until I was 40, so my life began at 40 in more ways than one."

After leaving the RUC, Linda went to Belfast Bible College before joining the Pastoral Team at West Church. It was then that she started to think about training for the ministry.

Says Linda: "The time as Pastoral Assistant was an affirmation of my call that I was doing exactly what God wanted me to do at that stage. It was always something that was in the back of my mind but I never really gave it any serious thought beforehand."

She enjoyed her time at Union College while sometimes finding it difficult to balance her theological study with her other commitments.

Understandably therefore, Linda is looking forward to undertaking her 'Assistantship' at First Larne.
She continues: "I have been with them part-time this year and that's a difficult balancing act, being at College and being a part-time Assistant so I am really looking forward to getting in full time."

"I look forward to building relationships with people, to being part of the community of God in there and to playing my part whatever that is - it excites me", enthuses Linda.

The new Minister is equally 'optimistic and excited' when she thinks about her ministry in the longer term, adding: "I think there is a real spiritual hunger in people and that, as a Church, we have got to minister to people in ways that are appropriate for the 21st century and meet them at their point of need and be there for them.

"I suppose, the one thing that really drives me is the fact that I love to get up, look at God's Word, see what it is saying to me and then go and say, 'this is what it is saying to you as well' because I know that it can make a difference in people's lives."

Linda concludes: "I do hope for revival and that on a weekly basis, people will come to know and love Jesus more than they did the week before."
A Commission of the Ballymena Presbytery which conducted her licensing service comprised Rev Elwyn Jones (Acting Moderator), Rev Joseph Andrews, (Clerk), while Rev Gareth McFadden preached the charge. The commission also included, West Church's Minister, Rev Daniel Kane and their representative elders.

Offering his congratulations to Linda during the service, Rev. Kane said: "This is a very proud day for us in West Church as Linda is the first member of our congregation to be licensed for the ministry of the Presbyterian Church.

"Linda has a genuine love for the Lord Jesus, and her very clear sense of call to the ordained ministry of our Church is no surprise to those of us who know her well. Linda has a great love for people and already she has proved herself a gifted preacher and caring pastor. We are all delighted that she has reached this significant point in her life and we assure her of our prayerful support and love."