Personal Call To Ministry
It can be challenging to comprehend what a call to ministry looks like. At the basic level, all believers are called to propel the Gospel forward to fulfill the Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:18–20. For those individuals who feel called to vocational ministry, the act of being called can sometimes look more like a journey than a distinct moment. Here it becomes essential to distinguish a call from a vocation. A calling never ceases, its manifestation in roles and responsibilities might change over time, but it does not culminate in retirement, whereas a vocation does not necessarily imply calling, and it does not necessarily stretch the span of an individual’s life.
Heart Intentions
Public ministry roles such as pastoring or worship leading necessitate an examination of the heart. God makes it clear to us throughout His Word that our heart’s priority is an integral part of our worship. In answering the call, therefore, one must thoroughly examine one’s motives. Are we in ministry for the clout that public roles bring? Are we rehearsing our act of worship leading weekly? Or do we genuinely understand our public office of ministry? I once heard it said that one must be sure they are called to ministry before heeding the call as ministry brings many seasons of hardship, and those of weak hearts and weak intention will soon falter in their steps.
Giftings
God’s call to ministry often follows a person’s natural giftedness. This is made abundantly clear in the story of Saul’s conversion in Acts 9. Saul was a zealous Jew who sought to persecute those he considered to be heretics–Believers. Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus took his sight away and led Ananias to him. The story continues to the point where Saul is healed of his blindness and becomes a believer himself. The same zeal that urged him to persecute Christians became the driving force in his ministry. God used his natural giftedness and zeal to bring many to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Although we may not experience a conversion or a calling as dramatic as Paul’s, God uses our gifts when He calls us to ministry. Sometimes this giftedness is affirmed by our local church family as well.
Experiences
The call to ministry can also develop through various experiences an individual has throughout their life. The experiences build on each other, teaching, shaping, and affirming the call that God has placed in their life. In the Bible, King David’s story is one that builds on experiences. Long before David defeated Goliath, he was a shepherd. David protected his flock and defended them from lions and bears. Later in David’s life, God brought him face to face with a giant, Goliath, whom David defeated. David’s life is studded with more experiences that eventually help him fulfill the role that God had called him to–leading Israel.
Conclusion
While other aspects exist in defining one’s call to ministry, giftings and experiences have played a significant role in my life, as well as those I have interviewed in the course of discovering my own calling. My calling has been a journey with a sense of compulsion. Each time I think of walking away, something always brings me back to my calling. While I still do not have the privilege of pursuing my call as a full-time vocational worship leader, I still enjoy serving the local church with my giftedness and learned skills. My time is spent developing skills in the areas where I am the weakest to serve the body effectively.
