Rev. Cazandra Campos-MacDonald, High Desert Hospice, Chaplain Chair, Order of Deacons, New Mexico Annual Conference
Walking people “home” is a privilege. I meet people of all faith traditions, as well as those who have no spiritual or religious belief system. I pray before every visit and phone call, asking Christ to use me to help people find peace and comfort at the end of life. I am challenged daily in my work to use my presence and words to bridge the Church to the world, often without “churchy” language. Being the hands and feet of Christ is a way of life that all Christ followers should work to adapt. However, I believe this act of being the hands and feet is especially significant for the Deacon. We find ourselves in places many have never encountered. From the children who come to school for safety, holding the hand of a person in their last days, and offering comfort to those who have no hope. Deacons are called to serve in liminal spaces where faith is translated into action, worship is expressed through service, and the love of Christ extends beyond the church into the broader community.
Rev. Dr. Kelly Jackson Brooks, Chrysalis Counseling for Clergy, Executive Director
My ministry setting has profoundly shaped my understanding of ministry beyond the walls of the church. Serving in counseling, leadership, and community-based settings has taught me that people are deeply longing for connection, healing, and authentic presence. It has strengthened my belief that ministry happens wherever people experience struggle, transition, and hope, and I am honored to represent the Church in these settings.
One of the biggest misconceptions about deacons within the conference is that our ministry is somehow secondary to brick-and-mortar ministry. Deacons serve as bridges between the church and the world, extending the church’s witness into workplaces, counseling offices, hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and community settings in a way that profoundly breathes God’s love and message into all people. Our role is not a secondary ministry – it is an extension of the church’s witness and mission to the world.
Rev. Katherine de la Rosa Salazar, McCurdy Charter School, Principal
Serving as a deacon in a public-school setting has taught me that ministry often happens in places the church may overlook, yet where God is deeply present. First as a classroom teacher and now as a principal, I have walked alongside students, families, and staff experiencing profound trauma through systemic poverty, grief, violence, and uncertainty. In those spaces, I have witnessed grace, love, and hope emerge in powerful ways.
My ministry has become one of presence: listening, advocating, encouraging, and reminding people of their dignity and worth.
Public schools are sacred spaces of ministry. They are places where compassion, justice, mercy, and hope are needed every single day. My ministry has shown me that mission is not always somewhere far away. Sometimes it is in our own neighborhoods, communities, and schools.
I believe the role of a deacon is to stand at the intersection of church and world, helping both recognize God’s presence in places long forgotten, ignored, or marginalized. Deacons are called to live alongside others and embody Christ’s love in everyday spaces.
My hope is to continue building spaces of belonging, healing, justice, and hope for students, families, and communities, especially those who have too often been unheard or overlooked.
Rev. Tiffany Hollums, McCurdy Ministries, Executive Director
McCurdy is a national United Methodist historic mission institution with a rich 114-year history of living in the community. We are currently shining the light of Christ in new and beautiful ways as a Family Resource campus, offering practical needs such as clothing, food, free mental health services, a five-star Pre-K, and Leer, a children’s literacy initiative. We are also blessed to have hundreds of volunteers from across the country come to serve through VIM (Volunteers in Mission) teams. We have also leaned into generously sharing our space with other nonprofits, and a vibrant community of service and collaboration has formed on our campus. It’s truly the most hopeful and inspiring community that I’ve been a part of, and I’m so deeply humbled to be a part of McCurdy and the Española Valley.
Being at McCurdy feeds my soul in so many ways and is honestly a childhood dream come true of mine to be in ministry at this special place. I love the people, the community, the rich history, and the hope that I see blooming all around. My calling as a Deacon has always been to love and serve in places that need hope and light. It’s in those places that I find God is most tangible to me in the stories and lives of others. Where others see hopelessness, I see hope and healing. It’s truly an honor for me to hear the stories, love, and listen, and to just experience what the love of God can do around us.
The biggest misconception I experience as a deacon is that I’m doing or being anything special by serving in places some would find difficult, when I truly believe this is the calling of the church and all Christians. The farther we, as Christ followers, move from the margins and point of greatest need in the world, the farther we are from exactly who Christ calls us to live and serve. Christ is present thickly in these places and with the lovely people you encounter. Being a deacon is a unique calling, one marked by service and humility, but I believe, also, that the calling of a deacon is a beautiful reflection of the spirit of Christ and who the Church should be in the world.
Rev. Katia Paredes, University Medical Center of El Paso, LMSC
I have been at the University Medical Center of El Paso for 21 years. I have worked in many areas, including oncology, internal medicine, trauma, dialysis, ICU, cardiology, and emergency medicine. They have been great
years. There is always something new to learn and new cases to figure out.
My calling as a Deacon has molded my entire life. It has led me to work with those who are most
vulnerable when it comes to access to medical care. It has led me to a border community, El Paso, TX,
where we have encountered numerous immigrant individuals and families in need of guidance and
understanding. Ministry and my calling motivate me to continue doing the work I do. The root
of my calling is based on Micah 6:8: “Do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your god”. Below is a quote that best articulates what guides my life, from Noah Brewer Wallin of The Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.
“Do Justice: Act fairly, advocate for the oppressed, and stand up for what is right in
your daily relationships and societal systems.
Love Mercy: Treat others with grace, kindness, and compassion. It’s not just about
doing what is required, but valuing and showing forgiveness and empathy.
Walk Humbly With Your God: Keep a posture of teachability and quiet
dependence on God. It means staying grounded, recognizing your limitations, and
acknowledging that your life and gifts come from a higher source.”
Michelle Walton, Executive Director, Wesley Foundation, UNM, Provisional Deacon
The calling of a Deacon invites us to bridge the church and the world in beautifully unexpected places. As the Executive Director of the Wesley Foundation at UNM, I can immerse myself in hands-on ministry with students at UNM. I have also had the profound privilege of preaching across diverse settings, ranging from UNM worship spaces to a variety of local church services.
Alongside my official appointment, I am pouring energy back into my arts ministry to show that spiritual disciplines extend far beyond traditional practices. Whether I am providing spiritual consultation to artist clients, writing my newsletter, or leading workshops, I want to remind others that creativity is a profound way to encounter the holy.
As I look toward the summer, my goals are twofold. First, I will develop a vibrant marketing and social media campaign for the Wesley Foundation to attract greater community investment and student participation in the fall semester. Second, to further broaden and build my arts ministry, I am taking a business finance class and working with the Veterans Small Business Administration to officially establish my practice as an LLC.
Rachel Minnar, Albuquerque Disability Arts Collaborative, Executive Director, Certified Deacon Candidate
As the Executive Director of the new nonprofit Albuquerque Disability Arts Collaborative (ADAC), providing classes, events, art shows, and Open Mics, ADA Cafes, and meaningful opportunities to be in an authentic and inclusive community, I have seen people come out of their shells, become more self-aware, more motivated to advocate for themselves and others, learn practical life skills, and increase their sense of value, self-confidence, and compassion.
People with disabilities continue to be marginalized by the church and the world, intentionally and not intentionally, explicitly and implicitly. Having authentic and inclusive community spaces for people with disabilities, where they are loved and welcomed for exactly who they are, has been missing in many church spaces. People with disabilities can sometimes feel unwelcome, even scared to go through the front door of a church, as they fear how they will be perceived. Especially if they don’t display “neurotypical” behaviors.
I hope that my nonprofit can show what it means to create truly authentic and inclusive spaces (beyond social justice and inclusion platitudes) and to create those spaces in their own churches, where people are welcomed as they are.
