Simon Siara: Called to Lead by Example

My name is Pastor Simon Siara. I first began to understand that God was calling me to ministry through dreams in which I saw myself shepherding. When I shared these dreams with my spiritual father, he told me that God was going to use me in ministry.

That calling continued to become clearer. While I was in high school, I was chosen as a leader in the Christian Union. Then, in 2014, I was elected to serve as an assistant pastor in my church.

As a young pastor, much of my ministry has been among other young people. Many come to me for advice and ask how I balance the different responsibilities in my life while remaining dedicated to my Christian faith. I have seen young people become involved in the church because they have been inspired by what God is doing through my life.

But one of the people most deeply affected by my ministry has been my own father.

When I was younger, my father did not want much to do with the church. At times, he even tried to keep me from attending. On Sundays, he would give me responsibilities such as looking after the cattle instead of allowing me to go to church.

That began to change in 2018, when I was preparing to get married. Many people came to our home for my pre-wedding celebration, and they shared testimonies about the ways God had used me to help them and to change the lives of their children.

The following day, my father called our family together. He told them, “I have now understood that this young man has been called by God to the ministry.”

Today, my father is a very active member of my church. I give God all the glory that through my ministry, even my father's life has been changed.

My vision now extends beyond the walls of the church. In the years ahead, I would like to provide computer classes so young people in my community can have greater access to education, particularly in information technology.

I also see a need among adults in my community, especially mothers who never had the opportunity to attend school. I hope to establish adult classes so that the education I have received can be used to help others and strengthen the entire community.

My training at Divine Providence Training Center (DPTC) is preparing me for that work. I believe it will broaden my knowledge, help me think more critically and teach me how to work more effectively with people.

I consider the opportunity to study at DPTC a privilege, and I give all the glory to God.