I was not born within the culture of the church. However, I did spend my later impressionable years (12-18) within it. Within this church culture, I heard much talk about “our calling” quite often.
We lead our youth to ask God the question of our calling. What is the purpose He has for our lives? What are we meant to do with them? And, it seems to be a question centralized on our young. This “calling” is never asked of our elderly or middle-aged.
I wanted to write this first blog post to explain my own calling and to say that it is not unique in any way. No matter what age we are, we all have a calling. God calls all of us to Him and He has a plan for us all. Sometimes, that call is to ministry as a pastor or evangelist, and sometimes that call is to work as a server in a restaurant or to be an attendant at a gas station.
The place God has led me is media missions; to be an advocate for missionaries and to tell the stories of what God is doing in places of the world. I see no destination yet, only that photojournalism is my preferred area. I have been told how amazing that is, and yes, it does sound amazing and I am excited to see how God will work through me to encourage others and to share the truth. However, at the foundation of it all, my calling in life is no different, only how I will enact that calling.
I read a book called “Encountering Missionary Life and Work: Preparing for Intercultural Ministry” by Tom Steffen and Lois McKinney Douglas for my Intercultural Studies minor. There’s a chapter in the book that talks about making decisions and discerning God’s will. In this chapter, there’s a section that specifically talks about the missionary call.
There is an excerpt I find interesting from the book that I will share with you now.
The idea of the “missionary call” has stirred countless discussions through the ages. Does God specifically call an individual to become a missionary? If so, how? Is not every follower of Christ called to be a missionary? How do I know if I have a received a call? Can I be a missionary without such a call? Is the Great Commission all the call that one needs? Is there a difference between a call to missions and a call to a secular vocation? Does the call differ from guidance?
The call to ministry usually related to the roles of pastors and missionaries . . . Whether for the pastorate or for missions, the call refers to an intense conviction that the sovereign God, through the Word, the Holy Spirit, and the community of faith, has set apart a follower of Christ for participation in a specific ministry . . . Seldom do churches, however, refer to secular vocations, such as a teacher, businessperson, doctor, nurse, homemaker, lawyer, politician, or mechanic, in relation to a call. Although congregational rituals exist to recognize the call to the pastorate and global missions, the same cannot be said for secular roles. It would seem healthier if each church recognized and ritualized the validity of every call received by its congregants.
Steffen and Douglas, Encountering Missionary Life and Work, page 55.
I admire this excerpt and I have to agree with it completely. No matter where God places you, what role you take up, your work, or your ministry, it is important to the Lord. He has placed you there for a reason and you can rest assured He will complete a good work in and through you no matter the role. All that matters is we are willing, and when He does call out to us, as an example set by the Prophets Samuel and Isaiah, we respond by saying, “Here am I!” (1 Sam. 3:8; Isaiah 6:8).
I received my call from the Lord at sixteen. This calling was received in my church sanctuary during one of the many worship nights a group of us orchestrated. This night was no different from any other. I was sitting there among the rows of chairs, singing and praying, when I had this image of a horizon. I do not remember much, honestly. I walked over to my mother, sat on her lap, and told her I thought God was calling me to missions. I decided then, whether it was missions or not, I would follow Him to see where He led me in life because there was nothing else for me. My “calling” was of salvation and vocation. I forfeited the vocation as long as I had Jesus as my salvation.
For the next two years, the Holy Spirit guided me through my schooling and my passions to lead me in the life and work I seek. Whatever I am “meant to do,” I know Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He has started a good work in me, and I will run this race to hear a job well done. I will look to those before me for encouragement and I will look to the one ahead of me for my destiny.
We all have the same One calling our names and saying, “Come!” What matters is that we respond by saying, “Here I am!”
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