Myron Krys Florence 2018 CV (PDF) | 2018 CV (HTML)
Leading Lessons and Carols ’16
I feel my call is in the area of Pastoral Care particularly in the area of self-identity, self-acceptance and personal change. I desire to write books, speak and sing about such topics. I believe that I am to be a safe space for people that are wrestling with their identity and esteem, particularly those within religious settings. Several people have told me over the years that I have a pastoral presence. They even went on to say that I was going to be a pastor one day. Though I tried to make myself desire that traditional role of pastoring a church, I never quite felt that nudge. While I know I could do it and do it very well, I do not feel that call at this time. Possibly this is because of my upbringing. Church for me has never been a safe space. It was a place where you put on your mask and fancy clothes. You did not expose your issues because people would talk about you and judge you. For this reason, I particularly have a heart for pastors and clergy. In my faith tradition, they were never able to be their authentic self. They always had to be “on.” If they showed certain sides of themselves, they were ostracized by the community. Yet, I believe that God has gifted me to be able to see people in different capacities and still respect them in their leadership position.
Singing Engagement with Rebekah Carpenter
I believe that part of my role is to be a bridge. Throughout my days, I have been able to go to various settings and be accepted. At one point, I was good friends with a guy my age and his parents, independent of each other. God has afforded me the ability to talk to people, from children all the way to elders; from various cultures and ethnicities. I have a non-threatening presence as people have informed me.
My passion is for those who were generally overlooked: the quiet introvert who does not have any friends; the person who is struggling to discover their identity in an environment that may not be accepting. I strive to be a mentor for those who needed someone to take the time to get to know them. Having struggled with my own self-esteem/self-worth and identity, I want to walk with them on the journey to greater self-love and awareness. I believe that God has allowed me to go through various things in my life so that I can more effectively minister to others. I know what it is like to not love yourself and to not feel good enough, thus I can identify with those who are broken and hurting.
I enjoy going deeper in relationships and conversations whenever possible. Surface relationships annoy me. I love to get into people’s psychology and see how they function. God has gifted me with an inquisitive personality. I tend to ask 101 questions. Many times this makes people think about things that they never have thought of before. For this reason, after graduating from Columbia Theological Seminary on May 19, 2018, I will attend Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, starting in the Fall of 2018. While there, I will pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Theology, Personality, and Culture, with the additional Clinical Track, which will prepare me to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. This will equip me to effectively assist those to whom I feel called. I am also currently pursuing ordination within the United Methodist Church, as that will provide further credibility to address people within church and religious settings.
CTS Choir 2016
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Music will always be a part of my life. I sing all day everyday. I know that it will play a role in my ministry. As well, my extensive background in graphic and web design will somehow impact my ministry though I am not sure how at this point. Particularly in the arts, I have learned how to be vulnerable and share pieces of myself, however to also be able to distance myself enough that I do not take criticism personally. When I was at the Art Institute of Atlanta, I had a professor that would tell us when our work was crap. It was scary at first but it toughened us up.
Interesting enough, my ISTP personality type analysis informs that people of my type do well as career counselors, clergy, guidance counselors, psychologists, teachers, writers, substance abuse counselors and mediators. This further confirms that I am going do the right track in my pursuit of Pastoral Care and Counseling.