While cleaning out some files, I came across a two-page paper I was required to write for a Pastoral Ministry class in seminary. The assigned subject was "My Call to the Gospel Ministry." On the cover page I noticed that it was sixteen years ago this month that I wrote out this assignment which, of course, was very subjective, being based on my personal experience.
At the time I wrote this paper, I was 23-year-old youth pastor who had been in full-time pastoral ministry not even a year. Reading the paper now, I can sense some youthful pride and immaturity in some of my testimony. Nevertheless, I smiled at the zeal and vigor that was evident, too. I was just starting out in my life's work, and I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself.
Sixteen years later, to the praise of God's grace, the fire has not abated. Over the years, God has continued to stoke the coals of my heart through life-changing, life-giving truth of His Word in the context of a ministry that constantly presents new challenges and opportunities for service. Yet what keeps the flame from getting out of control are manifold trials and temptations, as well as an ever-increasing awareness of my own deficiencies and insufficiency, all of which subdue my spirit and force me to come under the control of the Holy Spirit's tempering influence.
With that little "preface" out of the way, here's a copy of the paper I wrote, word-for-word:
There has never really been a doubt in my mind that I have been called to the Gospel ministry.
I was raised by godly parents in a Christian home and was saved at the age of four. Although my parents were not called to full-time ministry, they were godly lay persons who devoted much time, energy, and finances to the ministry of the local church. They would have missionaries and other guest speakers stay in our home at every available opportunity. This gave me a healthy exposure to life in the ministry. I was fascinated by missionaries' stories and loved to ask them about their work. My interest in the Gospel ministry was intensified by my own parents' interest and involvement.
By the time I entered my junior high years, I was already actively involved in various programs of our church (children's choir, Awana, etc.). But I really sensed the Lord's hand on my life the summer following my seventh grade year. I was maintaining a consistent, daily quiet time and memorizing much Scripture from my Word of Life Scripture memory packet. My parents, pastor, and youth leaders strongly encouraged me to enter Word of Life's Preacher Boys competition. I followed their advice and thoroughly enjoyed preparing my "very first sermon" over the next several months. By winning first place in the state and regional competition, I had the privilege of going up to Schroon Lake, New York, for the national competition. I finished fourth place and repeated my performance the following year. I realized that God had given me both a love and a gift for preaching His Word to others.
Throughout my high school years, I continued to participate in several different ministries of our local church as well as the Christian School which I attended. The three ministries that I enjoyed the most were the bus ministry, Vacation Bible School, and the nursing home ministry. These ministries were quite diverse and gave me broad exposure to all different areas of Christian service. The bus ministry allowed me to evangelize inner-city kids and their families, Vacacation Bible School gave me the opportunity to know and teach many children, and the nursing home ministry allowed me to meet some needs that older folks have. As I continued to serve the Lord in various capacities, He opened more doors for ministry, which helped me to further use and cultivate my God-given abilities for His glory.
Upon graduating from high school, I enrolled at Washington Bible College. The four years I spent there afforded me not only the opportunity to absorb enormous amounts of Bible knowledge and doctrine, but also the opportunity to use what I was learning in various ministries (campus evangelism, youth work, directing summer camp, etc.). I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington Bible College with my major being Bible and my minor being Pastoral Ministries.
My whole life has been geared toward the Gospel ministry. No lightning bolt struck me from the sky. No dramatic experience or crisis drove me to the Lord's work. The continuous prompting of God's Holy Spirit in my own heart has given me the intense desire and inescapable obligation to serve my Lord and Savior in the Gospel ministry.
Well, there it is. In closing, let me say that while the Holy Spirit called me into ministry, He used two specific means of influence during my most formative years: (1) my parents' godly teaching and example; (2) my participation in the ministries of the local church. I pray that these two influencing factors would be prevalent in your home, so that regardless of what God calls your children to do in terms of their vocation, they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
And if you're a young person reading this, I pray that you will appreciate your parents' attempts to mold you into a man or woman of God. You may not always agree with them, but I hope that you will appreciate them. I pray, too, that you will not discount or neglect the role of the local church in your spiritual development but will take advantage of present opportunities to learn God's Word and to use the gifts that He has given you to serve others for His glory.
At the time I wrote this paper, I was 23-year-old youth pastor who had been in full-time pastoral ministry not even a year. Reading the paper now, I can sense some youthful pride and immaturity in some of my testimony. Nevertheless, I smiled at the zeal and vigor that was evident, too. I was just starting out in my life's work, and I was so excited, I could hardly contain myself.
Sixteen years later, to the praise of God's grace, the fire has not abated. Over the years, God has continued to stoke the coals of my heart through life-changing, life-giving truth of His Word in the context of a ministry that constantly presents new challenges and opportunities for service. Yet what keeps the flame from getting out of control are manifold trials and temptations, as well as an ever-increasing awareness of my own deficiencies and insufficiency, all of which subdue my spirit and force me to come under the control of the Holy Spirit's tempering influence.
With that little "preface" out of the way, here's a copy of the paper I wrote, word-for-word:
There has never really been a doubt in my mind that I have been called to the Gospel ministry.
I was raised by godly parents in a Christian home and was saved at the age of four. Although my parents were not called to full-time ministry, they were godly lay persons who devoted much time, energy, and finances to the ministry of the local church. They would have missionaries and other guest speakers stay in our home at every available opportunity. This gave me a healthy exposure to life in the ministry. I was fascinated by missionaries' stories and loved to ask them about their work. My interest in the Gospel ministry was intensified by my own parents' interest and involvement.
By the time I entered my junior high years, I was already actively involved in various programs of our church (children's choir, Awana, etc.). But I really sensed the Lord's hand on my life the summer following my seventh grade year. I was maintaining a consistent, daily quiet time and memorizing much Scripture from my Word of Life Scripture memory packet. My parents, pastor, and youth leaders strongly encouraged me to enter Word of Life's Preacher Boys competition. I followed their advice and thoroughly enjoyed preparing my "very first sermon" over the next several months. By winning first place in the state and regional competition, I had the privilege of going up to Schroon Lake, New York, for the national competition. I finished fourth place and repeated my performance the following year. I realized that God had given me both a love and a gift for preaching His Word to others.
Throughout my high school years, I continued to participate in several different ministries of our local church as well as the Christian School which I attended. The three ministries that I enjoyed the most were the bus ministry, Vacation Bible School, and the nursing home ministry. These ministries were quite diverse and gave me broad exposure to all different areas of Christian service. The bus ministry allowed me to evangelize inner-city kids and their families, Vacacation Bible School gave me the opportunity to know and teach many children, and the nursing home ministry allowed me to meet some needs that older folks have. As I continued to serve the Lord in various capacities, He opened more doors for ministry, which helped me to further use and cultivate my God-given abilities for His glory.
Upon graduating from high school, I enrolled at Washington Bible College. The four years I spent there afforded me not only the opportunity to absorb enormous amounts of Bible knowledge and doctrine, but also the opportunity to use what I was learning in various ministries (campus evangelism, youth work, directing summer camp, etc.). I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington Bible College with my major being Bible and my minor being Pastoral Ministries.
My whole life has been geared toward the Gospel ministry. No lightning bolt struck me from the sky. No dramatic experience or crisis drove me to the Lord's work. The continuous prompting of God's Holy Spirit in my own heart has given me the intense desire and inescapable obligation to serve my Lord and Savior in the Gospel ministry.
Well, there it is. In closing, let me say that while the Holy Spirit called me into ministry, He used two specific means of influence during my most formative years: (1) my parents' godly teaching and example; (2) my participation in the ministries of the local church. I pray that these two influencing factors would be prevalent in your home, so that regardless of what God calls your children to do in terms of their vocation, they will love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
And if you're a young person reading this, I pray that you will appreciate your parents' attempts to mold you into a man or woman of God. You may not always agree with them, but I hope that you will appreciate them. I pray, too, that you will not discount or neglect the role of the local church in your spiritual development but will take advantage of present opportunities to learn God's Word and to use the gifts that He has given you to serve others for His glory.