Narrative Summary
Interview with Juli Nelson by Amy Schmidt
On November 16th, 2012, I pulled up to Mrs. Nelson’s driveway. I was a little early and
she was not home yet. Soon after I rang the doorbell, she pulled up in her car. She got out and
apologized that she had been getting her oil changed in her car, but, she said, “I stopped and
picked us up some scones!” It was then that I knew this interview was going to be extremely fun!
We walked into her home in Springfield, and she made me a cup of the best hot tea I have ever
drank. We sat down and I had her fill out the consent form and the biographical data sheet.
Shortly after that, we started the interview.
Juli and I talked about numerous things about her childhood, her college years and how
she became the woman she is today. I realized about one minute into the interview that this
woman – Juli – had a definite place in this archive. She said to me that she remembers from “a
very young age, having a fairly deep God-conscious-ness” that she experienced as “a warm
sensation in her heart.” She has always felt loved by God and as a result, love for God. Juli did
several things before she realized she was being called to the ministry. She was a musical
therapist and a piano teacher both of which got increasingly more boring the longer she did them.
Then, she felt the call. She was comforting a friend who had lost a baby and planning a worship
service for a women’s retreat. Juli said it was because of these two situations, she knew she was
meant to serve.
The call was so compelling that Juli did not waste any time. She received her Master’s
degrees in Theological Studies (at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary) and Divinity (at
Phillips Seminary). Juli became ordained in the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ and has
since become a solo pastor at a First Christian Church in Clever, Missouri. Before becoming
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pastor, Juli was an organist and a director of Christian education. As pastor, Juli and her
congregation have started several initiaves within the Springfield community in order to better
the lives of all the people who live here, not just those who go to her church.
Juli is obviously extremely successful in her attempts to better whatever or whomever is
around her. While interviewing her, I could just feel her dedication to her leadership position and
her call to serve God. It is not a forced dedication, she truly is passionate about her church and its
causes. Juli is selfless and humble and I have no doubt that her church will continue to impact
the Springfield community in a positive way. Mrs. Nelson believes that if people would focus on
the good they could do rather than the negatives or the obstacles in their way, the world would
no longer be a fractured and broken place. So, consequently, Juli advises all people, especially
women, who feel compelled to serve, to go forth with confidence, no matter the resistance. If
people are called to do good, they should not be held back. Interviewing with Juli was eyeopening and intriguing. I encourage everyone to listen to the interview! She is one of the
sweetest people I have ever met.
Missouri State University
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Religious Lives of Ozarks Women