Beauty, Brokenness, and Becoming: Jess Stanewell’s Journey to Ministry
For Jessica Stanewell, the path to ordination has been anything but conventional. From holistic therapist to outreach worker, as a single mother and a spiritual leader, her journey is a testament to transformation, resilience, and the relentless grace of God.
Jessica first entered the world of healing in 2003, qualifying in Swedish massage, beauty therapy, and holistic therapy. “I was looking for a meaningful career,” she recalls. “Something that could help people feel better—not just physically, but emotionally too.” Working in therapies that promoted well-being gave her a foundation in caring for the whole person.
Fast forward two decades, and Jessica has just completed her ordination training with St Hild College. She now prepares to begin her curacy at St John and St Stephen’s Church in Grimsby.
A Call Renewed
It wasn’t a straight line from beauty therapy to ministry. In fact, Jessica’s life took some difficult turns along the way.
“I was a single mum, struggling,” she says candidly. “Somewhere in that struggle, I developed an addiction to alcohol. I didn’t know who I was anymore.”
Things began to change when a friend—who would later become her godmother—invited her to church. “I walked through those doors and felt something I hadn’t felt in years: peace,” Jessica recalls. “I didn’t understand it at the time, but now I know—it was God’s grace.”
That grace carried her through some of her darkest moments. While still battling addiction, Jessica began volunteering at Emerge, a charity supporting women facing trauma, abuse, and addiction. “I was sitting with these women, telling them they were worthy and loved… even when I didn’t fully believe it about myself.”
Then came a turning point. “One morning, I imagined myself in God’s lap—broken, exhausted—and I just let it all out. I begged for strength. That day, I gave myself to God.” Since then, she has been sober—14 years and counting. “Except for communion,” she adds with a smile. “And that took two years.”
Now employed by Emerge as a support and outreach worker, Jessica walks alongside the women she once sat among. “I sit with them at rock bottom. I listen, cry, pray, fight for them. This time, I can do it with truth.”
Then came a turning point. “One morning, I imagined myself in God’s lap—broken, exhausted—and I just let it all out. I begged for strength. That day, I gave myself to God.” Since then, she has been sober—14 years and counting. “Except for communion,” she adds with a smile. “And that took two years.”
Training for Ministry
Jessica’s journey to ordination began with the Lincoln School of Theology and later continued at St Hild College, where she found both challenge and affirmation.
“I didn’t choose St Hild at first—it came through a collaboration,” she explains. “But becoming part of a bigger, more diverse community was a blessing. I’ve learned so much from the variety of Christian traditions represented there. It opened my eyes to the wider Church.”
St Hild also helped her navigate the complexities of Anglicanism. “At first, the language and traditions of the Church of England felt like a barrier. Now I feel confident engaging with them—and helping others do the same.”
Her new role as a distinctive deacon will involve ministry to families, single parents, widows, and those often overlooked by traditional church structures. “It’s about being present, meeting people where they are, and showing that God is already at work in their lives.”
Advice for Aspiring Students
To those considering theological study, Jessica offers heartfelt encouragement. “Be open. Be yourself. Bring your whole story—your doubts, your passions. God uses it all.”
She speaks highly of St Hild’s inclusive environment. “You don’t have to ‘fit the mould.’ I came in unsure and hesitant, but I was met where I was and helped to grow.”
Her own transformation—from hidden helper to visible leader—is still unfolding. “I’m more comfortable at the back, like a church ninja,” she jokes. “But God keeps calling me forward, asking me to do things that terrify me—like this interview!”
The One Who Came for the One
For Jessica, one passage of Scripture encapsulates her calling: the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18.
“That verse undoes me every time,” she says. “Because I was the one who wandered. And Jesus came for me. Now He invites me to go and do the same—go to the margins, to the messy places, and tell people: You are still wanted. You are still found.”
From holistic healing to holy calling, Jessica’s life is now a living witness to the transformative power of grace and a reminder that God not only restores but repurposes.
As she prepares to begin her curacy, she does so with deep humility and renewed strength. “God sees you. Loves you. And has a place for you—even if you think you don’t belong.”
