Rev. Quaya Ackerman (photo by J.Lynn Studios)

As Rev. Quaya Ackerman reflects on her journey in ministry, she recalls the first nudges of being called into ministry, which began at Wesley Acres Camp, both as a camper and later as a young adult. 

"There was a camp called Romans and Christians that convicted me so strongly of the persecution of early Christians that it deeply planted seeds of great gratitude for my own religious freedom," she recalled. "I wanted to share this amazing news with others."
Pastor Quaya was one of the five pastors ordained as elders at the 2025 Dakotas Annual Conference. 

As she continued her journey of faith, God placed people and experiences in her life that stoked that fire of calling. One of those was Pastor Paul Baker, who served her home church in Elgin, North Dakota, during her childhood. 

"Pastor Paul Baker is the one who pulled me into Circle of Friends when I was in high school," shared Quaya.  Circle of Friends is a ministry for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). "Paul helped me to see that they are the best humans."
That ministry with Circle of Friends made an immediate impression on Pastor Quaya and continues to be a powerful way that she encounters God. 

"I felt my heart 'strangely warmed' for the way that God works in and through these very beautiful people," shared Pastor Quaya. "They see the world through the eyes of Jesus, and we can all learn from their deep compassion and agape love for ALL. Their servant hearts and selflessness come from a truly authentic place that can only be as a purposeful plan from our Creator."

"I feel like our Circle of Friends are angels on earth. I truly believe that," added Quaya. 
After high school, Quaya served in the Army National Guard for 12 years, which included a deployment to Iraq. She received a degree in exercise science from North Dakota State University. She worked at Sanford Health Cardiac Rehabilitation for many years, completing an M.S. in Health Administration during that time. 

Pastor Quaya leading Circle of Friends camp.

Quaya eventually became a member of Flame of Faith United Methodist Church in West Fargo, N.D. It was during that time that the Spirit began to stir within her even more, nudging her towards the next steps of answering her call to pastoral ministry and bringing others alongside her to spur her on.

"I became a certified lay minister and came alongside [Pastor Sara McManus] in her ministry," shared Quaya. "She provided me the grace and space to figure out what this 'call' meant. I wanted to support her ministry as I was trying to figure out what the heck God was calling me into." 

That brief season alongside Pastor Sara was the fuel Quaya needed to launch into her first pastoral appointment – the United Methodist Church in Arthur, N.D. 

"Serving in a rural setting was a wonderful opportunity as it felt as if I had 'come home' serving an agricultural/ranching community similar to the United Methodist Church I was raised in," said Pastor Quaya. "Serving in Arthur was such a blessing as a first appointment, as the congregation was so encouraging and patient towards this 'first-timer.'"

Pastor Quaya would go on to complete her Master of Divinity degree through Sioux Falls Seminary, and United Methodist courses through Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In the fall of 2021, she and her husband, Matt, relocated to the opposite corner of the Dakotas, where she would serve Rapid Valley United Methodist Church, near Rapid City, South Dakota.

Following four years of service in Arthur, I was called into an off-cycle appointment in the SW district and moved to Rapid City in October 2021. "As I approach the fourth anniversary of serving at Rapid Valley, it is with great gratitude that I see the provisions of God upon the church and congregation as they have grown into faithful, generous, and loving disciples of Christ," shared Quaya. "They have very bravely done the work of discerning God's will and finding their own identity, and through this work have made an incredible impact in the community." 

Pastor Quaya and her husband, Matt, celebrating her ordination at Rapid Valley UMC.

Pastoral ministry has not been without its challenges. The rise of divisiveness in culture and its impact on the church weigh heavily on Pastor Quaya.

"It's such a slippery slope to go into Christian Nationalism, to go into 'We' versus 'They' or even using 'We/They' verbiage," she laments. "It's not a 'We/They' about anything if we're really focused on Kingdom matters. We are all 'We.'"

Through it all, Pastor Quaya seeks to be a non-anxious presence for the people she leads. "My motto is a nap and a snack. Everyone needs a nap and a snack, and we're good," she said.

She also sees the power of hope in times like these. 

"I think that's the other thing—just continuing to find pockets of hope and leaning into the connection and also getting outside of ourselves," she emphasized. "We can't be so inwardly focused because there's still work to be done."

Reflecting on what the church has gone through in recent years fuels her hope for what is ahead. 

"We didn't know the outcomes of disaffiliation. We didn't know what our church was going to look like. We didn't know what loved ones we were going to lose," shared Pastor Quaya. "But now that the dust has settled a bit, we're moving into a mode of thriving versus surviving." 

Pastor Quaya sees the fires of that hope continuing to be stoked as we live into who we are as United Methodists.

"Love boldly was the perfect theme for this year's annual conference because that's who we are, and I think that's something we know how to do," said Pastor Quaya. "Whatever it looks like – if it's missions, if it's service, if it's ministry, if it's financial resources – we know how to do that!" 

"I think the hope is that we can continue to lean into what we know how to do best as the people called United Methodists," she added. 

When asked how her Dakotas UMC family could pray for and with her in this next season, Pastor Quaya replied, "Pray for the Rapid City area in the population growth and growth of houseless persons that our churches are able to reach out to– those on the margins, and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Also, please pray for the safety of all the campers/counselors/deans & directors participating in our Dakotas camps."

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Interested in becoming a part of the Circle of Friends camp ministry? Here are a few opportunities:
July 28-1 COF Wesley Acres
Oct 16-19 COF Storm Mountain

Pastor Quaya also helps lead a women's retreat at Storm Mountain, Relax, Refresh, Renew, Oct 24-26. This year's theme will be "Sacred Sisterhood-Biblical Stories of Courage & Empowerment."