|
Interim Pastor Donna L. NickersonDonna Nickerson and her husband Gary have been members of Christ Chapel in Raymond since 1995. Donna has served as Sunday School Teacher, Deaconess, Treasurer, Worship Leader, and Small Group Leader. Gary has served as Trustee, Chair of the Board, and Head Trustee. He is currently serving as Treasurer. Donna has been serving as Interim Pastor at Christ Chapel since January of 2021 and has since been accepted into the ordination track of the Maine State Advent Christian Conference.
Donna's love of learning recently brought about her enrollment in a 3-year program launched by the Advent Christian General Conference: the Ministry Training Institute (MTI). She is also completing a master’s-level thesis towards a Master of Divinity degree (MDiv) with a Ministry Concentration from Global Awakening Theological Seminary. Donna and Gary have four grown children and two grandchildren, and live in Cumberland, Maine. 
|
Pastor Donna's Journey:
I was raised in the Advent Christian community of Faith Evangelical Church in Melrose, Massachusetts, graduating from vocational training in Accounting in 1982. After marrying my high school sweetheart from our mutual hometown of Stoneham, Massachusetts, Gary Nickerson and I eventually moved to Maine and settled into Sunday Worship at Christ Chapel’s former location on Main Street in Raymond. We raised our four children here within the Christ Chapel community, together navigating through the church’s move to its current location on Northern Pines Road.
Following completion of a two-year business degree at Southern Maine Community College in 2009 and a four-year degree in Computer Information Systems at UMaine, Augusta in 2012, my career was put on hold as I sought the Lord’s direction. With our children grown and living their own adult lives, I entered seminary in 2017, joining with Global Awakening’s Theological Seminary - Family of Faith University. Today I am nearing completion of their Master of Divinity degree program, Ministry Concentration.
I love studying and sharing with others about the Lordship of Jesus. My current favorite book for theological study is “The New Testament in Its World” by N.T. Wright. I enjoy documentaries and biographies as well. I’ve been studying the life of a first cousin from the 1800s (several generations removed, mind you), one Thomas Whittemore, as he preached in Boston and the surrounding towns. His auto-biography is titled: The Early Days. I’ve also begun classes with MTI (Ministry Training Institute).
All of the above is driven by a passion for God’s Word and most importantly, His Son, Jesus Christ. I firmly believe and preach that there is no life outside of a life hidden in Christ, either in this age, or in the age to come. True life is found only in Him. As we yield our hearts to Him we flourish in the power of Jesus’ resurrected life - a life by His Holy Spirit that He died to make available for us. May the reality of that blessing be increasingly experienced by each of us today.
Following completion of a two-year business degree at Southern Maine Community College in 2009 and a four-year degree in Computer Information Systems at UMaine, Augusta in 2012, my career was put on hold as I sought the Lord’s direction. With our children grown and living their own adult lives, I entered seminary in 2017, joining with Global Awakening’s Theological Seminary - Family of Faith University. Today I am nearing completion of their Master of Divinity degree program, Ministry Concentration.
I love studying and sharing with others about the Lordship of Jesus. My current favorite book for theological study is “The New Testament in Its World” by N.T. Wright. I enjoy documentaries and biographies as well. I’ve been studying the life of a first cousin from the 1800s (several generations removed, mind you), one Thomas Whittemore, as he preached in Boston and the surrounding towns. His auto-biography is titled: The Early Days. I’ve also begun classes with MTI (Ministry Training Institute).
All of the above is driven by a passion for God’s Word and most importantly, His Son, Jesus Christ. I firmly believe and preach that there is no life outside of a life hidden in Christ, either in this age, or in the age to come. True life is found only in Him. As we yield our hearts to Him we flourish in the power of Jesus’ resurrected life - a life by His Holy Spirit that He died to make available for us. May the reality of that blessing be increasingly experienced by each of us today.
|
Church BoardJohn Kirby, Chairman
Cathy Markavich, Clerk Gary Nickerson, Treasurer Bob LeClerc, Head Trustee Denise LeClerc, Missions Director Phil Luciano, Head Deacon 
|
