This interview is part of our series of getting to know the speakers and musicians who will be at the Midwinter conference in January. We asked them some questions about our theme for the year, “Follow Me.”
Sanetta Ponton is the associate pastor of justice, advocacy, and compassion at Metro Community Church and executive director of Metro Community Center, both in Englewood, New Jersey.
Where do you currently live?
I currently live in Hackensack, New Jersey.
Can you describe a pivotal moment when you responded to the call to follow Jesus?
Transitioning from law to ministry was an incredibly pivotal moment in my life. I was absolutely following God’s call. I was in my last year of law school when I heard God call me to ministry. I was personally and emotionally invested in becoming a lawyer, but God had other plans for me. The call did not come with much instruction, simply the word “ministry,” but I knew it was God and I knew that I had to follow. It was an isolating time. It was scary and it was confusing. In response to questions, I couldn’t provide details because God hadn’t provided me with any. But God had provided me with certainty and an internal peace that, when I moved beyond my own feelings of confusion and disappointment, were what guided me to say “Yes!” And I’m so glad I did!
How has your understanding of what it means to follow Jesus changed over time?
I have learned over the years that following Jesus is a deeply personal commitment. Often in church we like to provide generalizations, and our people want to know what we have done so they can follow suit. Even pastors and leaders often want to know how we can follow in the footsteps of another person. I have learned that God calls each one of us uniquely and personally. How you follow Jesus may not look like how God has called me to follow him. Community is important for encouragement and sometimes discernment, but ultimately the call and the decision to follow is personal—between you and God. God is always doing a new thing, and often we can’t perceive it. This is why listening to the Holy Spirit and trusting how God speaks to us is so important. God is always at work creating. I’ve learned never to doubt what God can and will do. His vision is greater than our own, and following him will often take us down unpaved paths. Still follow. Still go!
Who is the most interesting person you follow online, and why?
IG: @nonanotnora—Nona Jones. Nona is a preacher, executive, author, and contributor to YouVersion. Her Instagram is filled with biblical encouragement, leadership tips, as well as fashion and fitness. Another favorite is IG: @miriam.ezagui—Miriam Malnik-Ezagui, who shares about her life as an Orthodox Jewish woman. I’ve learned so much about her faith and have been inspired by it. She has also helped me to understand the Old Testament in deeper ways.
Just for fun: What was your last Google search?
Pattern Beauty hair steamer (who doesn’t love healthy hair? lol)
