Our Calling

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I had a professor in college who said that God calls every believer to ministry. Some to full time vocational ministry and others to every day ministry whatever our vocation may be. Of course I’ve paraphrased her —  1970  was a long time ago.

And Dr. Fran Simpson was right. As Christ-followers we have not only been called but also gifted. The apostle Paul wrote ,”For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭29  NKJV

What does that mean? Someone put it this  by  way: “God won’t change His mind about what He has called you to do.”

What has God called you to do? Our experiences of HOW we received our call differs; we all don’t have the same encounters with God. Yours may have been an angelic appearance or less dramatic. You may have just realized that you are a good fit with what you have grown into. I’m not an expert on how God moves. My call to vocational ministry was unmistakably definitive. While attending a youth convention at the Farm Show Arena in Harrisburg, this 14 year old responded to a specific altar call for those whom God was calling to such ministry. The experience replicated my altar call for salvation four years earlier. I could not not go forward that day. And I never looked back. 

God has allowed me to serve His church in a pastoral role for almost 50 years. He enabled me to travel to Guatemala and Nicaragua over 25 times combined to minister and teach pastors. He has granted me the privilege to continue to work with pastors through the credentialing process with the Missionary Church. I could never have imagined my ministry journey except that God called me and gave me the spiritual gifts to do it  

One of things I tell anyone going into vocational ministry is this; “If God has called you, do nothing else; but if God has not called you, do anything else.” It’s not a cushy job. If it weren’t for His unmistakable call, I might have walked away on more than one occasion  

If God has called you and gifted you to minister in the school system, corporate board room, building houses, skyscrapers or highways, etc. use the gifts He has given you and follow the Great Commission by making disciples of all peoples. Remember that God’s gifts and callings are irrevocable. He doesn’t change His mind. 

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