a Bermudian is set to take over the pastorate.

Ernest Peets Jr. will graduate from the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri next month with a masters degree in theology and will quickly return to replace outgoing minister Phil Patalano.

Mr. Peets, 28, was raised in the Church of the Nazarene but never considered joining the ministry until early 1995. He is the son of Ernest, a businessman, and Sharon, an office manager at Bluck's on Front Street.

"It wasn't until I got in college that I became aware of God's call in my life,'' Mr. Peets said from his home in Missouri. "I never had the ministry in my mind when I was young.'' He added: "It became strong when I went to a revival after I returned from University and was working at Trimmingham's.'' That revival, organised by then First Nazarene pastor Emmanuel Shavier featured a stirring message from evangelist Rev. Robert Taylor. For a whole year Mr. Peets talked with pastor Shavier and other members of the church about faith and took an active role in the running of the church. But it was an abrupt resignation from Trimmingham's that was both daring and fortuitous -- within a week elders were encouraging him to study for the ministry.

"After about a year I had an overwhelming conviction to leave,'' he said.

"And just a week later the pastor was resigning and the New England and Bermuda district wanted me to step up to the pastor's role.'' Mr. Peets added: "They wanted me to complete theological training. They offered me a full scholarship on the condition that I return home and pastor.'' He admits the scholarship, with half of the funds coming from the district and the other from the church "doesn't happen often'', but said: "It took me by surprise, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was from God.'' Mr. Peets and Julie, his wife of one-and-a-half years will spend a month after his graduation in the US tidying up personal business.

They will return to Bermuda on June 10 to take over the senior pastor's post on June 13. The Nazarene Church is a Wesleyan Methodist denomination with a special emphasis on holiness.

It is evangelical in its preaching and fellowship, and has millions of adherents in more than 45 countries.

The local church has more than 30 voting members but as Mr. Peets said, "usually attendance is higher than membership''.

A Howard University business school graduate, Mr. Peets attended Harrington Sound Primary, Sandys Secondary, and Bridgeton Academy in the US.

APPOINTMENT APP