Twenty-five years ago this June, I was ordained to ministry in the United Methodist Church.It’s hard to believe it’s been that long since June 1985.In many ways it seems like just yesterday.But the journey didn’t begin in 1985.It was a long journey that began when I was a 14 year-old freshman in High School…
Remembering a Call to Ministry…
My youth group had experienced spiritual and numerical growth as a result of the Lay Witness Mission program -- a weekend experience during which lay people came from around the country to hold small group meetings and all-church meetings to teach us how to share our faith with others.We started by sharing our stories in a small group, which gave us the courage to share with the whole church at the combined services.There was lots of music and singing, testimonies and tears.But the most amazing thing was how God changed our lives that weekend.
Later that summer, the youth had a weekend retreat at a farm near Bloomington during which one of the youth, who was a heavy drug and alcohol user, gave his life to Christ.
Strengthened by these events, our youth group went “on the road” to other churches, camps, and schools with a program of music and testimony, telling about how Jesus Christ had changed our lives.I learned to play guitar as part of this group.
For the next three years, I grew in Christ through worship, Bible study, and meetings that we called “share group.”I began to sense a calling from God.It came first when my older sister, Anita, suggested to others that I might be a good minister.My first reaction was, “No!I want to be an astronaut!” (or a rock-gospel star, or a Christian radio/TV broadcaster or electronic engineer!)But God was persistent.
Every summer, as I attended Church Camp at Indi-Co-So, God continued to call my name, and I wrestled with my “call,” and my purpose in life.
In college, I majored in Math & Physics, but God kept sending people into my life who gently prodded me to consider a call to ministry.This cast of characters included college professors, administrators, the college chaplain, pastors, friends, my girlfriend (and soon to be wife) Dee, and her father, who was also a pastor.
But I wasn’t sure.I was waiting for “The Voice” to be absolutely undeniable.I continued all through college in my chosen majors, but I picked up a strong minor in religion.Oddly, I felt more kinship to those in the religion department than in the math and physics departments.This also was God’s “voice” but I wasn’t fully listening.
After graduating in 3 ½ years and getting married, it took eight months to decide my next step.Dee and I wound up in Dallas, Texas at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, where I wrestled with God for 4 years of graduate school, earning my Masters of Divinity degree.In my fourth year, while serving a three-church student parish in Oklahoma, my call was finally clear.It took 12 years and a lot of voices to make it clear… God had called me to the ordained ministry in the local church.
How are you wrestling with God?
God may not be calling you to the ordained ministry. (Or maybe, yes?)but God IS calling all of us to something special and unique.How long will you wrestle with God?How many voices will it take to become clear?How do you hear God speaking to you in the scriptures?In sermons? In Bible studies, small groups or Sunday school classes?In music?In the voice and actions of others?Ask God to make His voice clear, and God will…If you are listening.
