By Morgan Mizell

The Natchez Democrat

VIDALIA — Ministry has always been close to Rebecca Caldwell’s heart.

Along with her full-time job as a customer service representative at United Mississippi Bank in Vidalia, she and her husband, Trey, serve as young adult pastors at Crossbridge Church in Ferriday.

“I knew that I wanted to serve God with my time in whatever way he called me,” Caldwell said. “I’ve just followed his lead step by step and that lead me here (to Crossbridge).”

The position allows Rebecca and her husband to focus on young adults between 18 and 35 years old.

“My husband and I lead small groups, which is key to our ministry,” Caldwell said. “It is really where the learning and growth takes place.”

The Caldwell’s have been serving as young adult pastors for approximately two years. Before that, they were youth pastors. Caldwell admits she loves what she is doing, but there are other goals and passions she has as well.

“I don’t think I will be in this position forever, but I do believe that ministry is a lifelong call,” Caldwell said. “I do have other things I am pursuing. I recently became a certified Revelation Wellness group fitness instructor. I teach twice a week at the church. I know that God wants us to be spiritually and physically healthy.”

The couple started as a dating couple at Crossbridge, known then as Ferriday Church of God. They also attended Vidalia First Assembly of God. When the pastors there died, they decided to make a transition and move fully to Crossbridge.

Since the move, Caldwell has completed training through the Church of God School of Ministry. She started with an exhorter’s license and most recently became an ordained minister.

Caldwell’s testimony is what drives her to throw herself into the ministry so willingly.

One of four children in a single-parent home, Caldwell felt angry and acted out her feelings in various non-positive ways when she was younger.

“I wasn’t a bad kid growing up but I was pretty wild,” Caldwell said. “I was getting into fights and drinking too much. I made some very poor decisions and ended up feeling broken and depressed. I wanted to die.”

Caldwell says her mother, Kellie, never stopped praying for her and encouraged her to seek God. She admits she cannot recall a single defining moment when her life changed, but rather, she experienced several moments of clarity when she realized some of the negative weight had been lifted.

“I just knew I needed Jesus and I started walking it out each day with him,” Caldwell said. “He has healed my heart, my mind and literally healed my body.”

Caldwell said she found herself doing anything  and everything to be at the church.

“He healed my broken heart,” Caldwell said. “I was bound and he set me free. My family should be destroyed because of abuse but we — my mom, siblings and their spouses — are all serving God today. God is the miracle maker and if he did it for us, he will do it for you.”

Caldwell says she doesn’t know what the future holds for her family but she looks forward to whatever God calls them to do. They hope to do full-time ministry one day.

“I want to be a part of what God wants to accomplish, not just at Crossbridge, but in the Miss-Lou,” Caldwell said. “ I want to see Isaiah 61 come to life in our community. I want to share the good news of Jesus. I want to see the broken-hearted healed; I want to see those who feel bound up by depression, anxiety and worry set free; I want suicide in our area to end and for families that have been destroyed by drug addiction and abuse to be healed and restored.”

Caldwell says she wants to see people get to know Jesus for themselves.

“So often, people see Christians and make their assumptions of Christ off our actions,” Caldwell said. “ Let’s be honest, we all have days where we do a pretty bad job at being his ambassadors.”

She believes the best way to do these things is to really get into the Word and read as well as asking the tough questions.

“If we are going to know Christ, it’s not just about finding the right church or the right person to listen to,” Caldwell said. “We need to dig in and find out what being a Christ follower really looks like.”

Caldwell would like to invite the community to the Lovely Lane Methodist Church Revival Feb. 26-March 1. She will be preaching March 1 at 6:30 p.m.

She also wanted to share that Crossbridge will host a committed marriage monference March 10-12. The event will feature Bishop Scott and Tyra King from Judah Church in South Carolina. Married couples or those who are engaged are invited to attend. The cost is $25 per couple.

For more information about the wellness classes and  the church, contact Caldwell by email at becca@battleground.life.

Crossbridge services are at 10:45 a.m. on Sundays and at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.