Gently Called
Having been raised in a pastor’s family, I can identify many times where I sensed God drawing me into a relationship with Himself. I accepted Christ by the age of eleven. Throughout my entire childhood and teen years, I was fortunate to be exposed to many different ministry situations. Whether it was roofing a house, witnessing, leading small groups, sharing my testimony, or mission trips, I always seemed to be drawn toward doing more ministry. I had developed a love for drafting and architecture in junior high and high school. I believed that I had the skills to pursue a career in architecture. I began to surround myself with books and people that helped me learn more about that field, but I didn’t realize at the time that I was being called to ministry. When it came time to begin thinking about college, nothing seemed to match with my heart’s desires. I looked at several engineering and architectural schools, but my desire to go was not strong. Then through some mentors and over a course of camps and summer mission trips, I began to realize where my passion was – ministry. It was a very natural decision for me. I knew that was where I belonged. Every ministry opportunity that surrounded me seemed to be for me. I couldn’t resist getting involved. This happened just before my junior year in high school. Later, in college, I had also sensed God call me to missions. In fact, when I responded to a call to missions at a conference in Glorieta, NM, Michele, whom I was not even dating at the time, had responded to the invitation also and we were paired together with a counselor. Later, at a missions commissioning service, God clarified my call to be a pastor. Along the way, God has confirmed His call in my life in various ways. I experience God’s joy when I am preaching, discipling, and evangelizing. God gently called and I joyfully accepted.
Have you been called to the ministry or to a task for God? God has an assignment for all of us. He wants to clarify His call in your life.
