Rev. Kim-Maria Osorio
My "official journey" working in the field of interfaith spiritual care began during 9-11 when I served as a Chaplain Supervisor for the American Red Cross. Uniting with leaders from various faith groups and supervising them as we worked together to serve humankind was truly an amazing and rewarding experience. This was a position that, at first, I thought I was not qualified for. But I was there because God had sent me and meditating and studying His words had prepared me. Especially the first and second commandments given by Jesus to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.’
At that time, I was a Licensed Associate Minister at a Baptist Church where I had been serving for five years and I subsequently served, faithfully, for fifteen. My journey getting here was not without struggles. I was a member at another Baptist Church when I received the "call to ministry" and, my Pastor at the time did not believe in woman ministers. Nevertheless, he was my Pastor and I had to inform him. This did not go well. He told me, that was not God speaking and I needed to go back and pray some more. This was very disheartening! For a couple of years, I ran from the calling but, I also prayed. I left that church and attended Times Square Church in NYC for a couple of years. This was like a little heaven on earth to me; having the various races and cultures in one place worshipping, fellowshipping and serving together. WOW! In the meantime, I still had a tug in my spirit regarding ministry and I knew it was not me. Although I loved serving and helping anyone and everyone, I was shy and somewhat of a loner; I did not want to be in the spotlight. However, I kept hearing, "not my will but thy will be done". Hence, I prayed and asked God to lead me to where he wanted me to be and, God did just that. In a dream, he showed me the Pastor of the church where I ended up being licensed and serving for a total of twenty years. To God be all the glory.
Although grateful for the opportunity to preach, I knew that the love of God transcends denominations and walls. I was searching for something that would allow me to show forth Gods love to all humankind.
In 2010 I joined NYSCTF and received some much-needed training. I now serve as a Volunteer Chaplain with the MTA/NYCTA and I am also an Ordained Minister doing what I believe I was born to do. Being a living example and, training individuals to effectively journey alongside people and genuinely, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and live out the Golden Rule, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12
At that time, I was a Licensed Associate Minister at a Baptist Church where I had been serving for five years and I subsequently served, faithfully, for fifteen. My journey getting here was not without struggles. I was a member at another Baptist Church when I received the "call to ministry" and, my Pastor at the time did not believe in woman ministers. Nevertheless, he was my Pastor and I had to inform him. This did not go well. He told me, that was not God speaking and I needed to go back and pray some more. This was very disheartening! For a couple of years, I ran from the calling but, I also prayed. I left that church and attended Times Square Church in NYC for a couple of years. This was like a little heaven on earth to me; having the various races and cultures in one place worshipping, fellowshipping and serving together. WOW! In the meantime, I still had a tug in my spirit regarding ministry and I knew it was not me. Although I loved serving and helping anyone and everyone, I was shy and somewhat of a loner; I did not want to be in the spotlight. However, I kept hearing, "not my will but thy will be done". Hence, I prayed and asked God to lead me to where he wanted me to be and, God did just that. In a dream, he showed me the Pastor of the church where I ended up being licensed and serving for a total of twenty years. To God be all the glory.
Although grateful for the opportunity to preach, I knew that the love of God transcends denominations and walls. I was searching for something that would allow me to show forth Gods love to all humankind.
In 2010 I joined NYSCTF and received some much-needed training. I now serve as a Volunteer Chaplain with the MTA/NYCTA and I am also an Ordained Minister doing what I believe I was born to do. Being a living example and, training individuals to effectively journey alongside people and genuinely, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and live out the Golden Rule, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." Matthew 7:12