Answering the Call
 

Hello,

For those of you who have ever been in full time ministry, whether evangelizing, pastoring or some other form, how did you answer the call?

I'm currently 30 years old, been working at the same company for almost 12 years. God has financially blessed my family in an incredible way over the past year. I've made more money already this year, than we've ever made in an entire year before. I have a great job with incredible benefits with an awesome company. However, my career is no longer my passion...

I go to bed at night dreaming about the work of God. I drive in my car weeping, burning with a desire and burden to do something for the Kingdom. I've driven home many days from a great job, tears streaming down my face feeling the mantle of calling and not sure what to do with it.

I've shared here before, my wife and I are very active in our church. In fact I was thinking the other day, this is the first time in more than 10 years we haven't been teaching a Sunday morning class every week. We usher, we serve, we knock doors, I lead service, I preach when asked, we sing in the choirs, we have taught Sunday school, youth and college & career classes. In the past year, we've been blessed to preach out more than we ever have before. I'm humbled to say God has moved in every service with anointing and power.

Our financial blessings have been such this year, that my wife and I were thinking of taking an extended vacation in the Fall. We were going to go out of the country for the first time. However, I felt in prayer that God spoke to me and said that He hasn't blessed us so that we could take vacations. He's blessed us to prepare for ministry.

I'm just not sure how to move from here, to there. I've had several conversations with my Pastor, and he just says to take it slow. Although, out of intimidation I don't think I've told him fully how I feel. He keeps telling me that most evangelists starve while on the field.

How do I express this feeling that I have? How do I tell my Pastor that I feel God drawing us away from home? How do I tell him I sit in my pew burning with a desire to do more?

Not for money (trust me) not for fame... but to answer the Call of God

Re: Answering the Call
 

Begin doing what God has drawn you to do. One of four things can happen:

1. You begin ministry outside the church meeting ("evangelism"), God blesses your efforts, souls are brought to Jesus, your church recognises the calling of God on your life and confirm that calling with prayer and laying on of hands. They begin to support your ministry efforts at least with prayer (don't expect any funding, however lol).

2. You begin ministry outside the church meeting ("evangelism"). God blesses your efforts, souls are brought to Jesus, etc, your pastor feels you are a threat to his position and power and starts trying to sabotage and discourage your efforts. Time to move on.

3. You begin ministry, etc, but God did not call you to do just that just yet, so results are terrible. You go back to praying and seeking God's will until you find it.

4. You begin ministry etc and results are great even though it's not what God wanted you to do because you've got some heresy hidden away in there somewhere, your church may or may not recognise that and may or may not support your efforts. You die and wind up in hell for being a false minister unless you repent before you die an untimely death after becoming a great successful evangelist with invitations to preach on TBN and Daystar, etc.

Hopefully, number 1 is the actual result.
:heeheehee

If you know that you know, then step out and begin doing what God has called you to do.

Re: Answering the Call
 

That's beautiful. I was just gonna make a thread about something like this.. But I feel a call to do more as well for the kingdom primarily in the area with winning souls to the kingdom, so whether that's teaching bible studies or what. I also feel a strong desire of deliverance to see many set free and not captivated by the snares and lies of the enemy. What bothers me the most is seeing a child of God enslaved to a lie that was told! So I guess in a way that's just my burden if you will. But I have been involved in choir bus ministry etc but brother let the Spirit of God lead you! He will open doors and give direction just keep doing what you know is right! I've seen God do great things with people who continue to remain faithful and obedient to authority and God completely elevates them to another place! But we may be diff I believe there is a call of God on my life but I have felt such a strong burden for souls, intercession, and deliverance. God knows what that call is but hey thy will be done! Hope something I said helped :O Im excited for you and praying direction and open doors for you all!

Re: Answering the Call
 

Thank you my friend!

Re: Answering the Call
 

Stay away from door number 4. Got it, thanks for the advice!

Re: Answering the Call
 

I have learned one thing brother: God gently leads and the devil pushes. I know someone who was in a similar situation. He had a good job - gave it up - had a rough time. He had a dominating pastor and was afraid of his zeal and jealousy arose with NO help. If you have a good pastor he will help you but if you don't, he can jeopardize your ministry. A good pastor will help you and even help you line up meetings and encourage you. It will be a learning process so you will face battles that you didn't know existed. But when another young minister comes to your for advise and help, you will know how to help him.

Re: Answering the Call
 

Some were called

Some were sent

Some just got up and went

Re: Answering the Call
 

Be up front with your pastor. You don't have to have his permission, but I would rather go with his blessing. Evangelism today has a lot to do with relationships built with other pastors. Your pastor can help you with this, but also without his blessing that can affect your preaching schedule. If you have clear instructions from God then you should obey no matter what anyone thinks, but while you are uncertain, patiently work for God where you know he has placed you. As far as intimidation is concerned, you need to be able to communicate with your pastor. Give him a chance to help you in your journey.

Re: Answering the Call
 

BTW, ministry is full time regardless if we are paid for it. I am sure you already know this. I have found it useful to be flexible and to be able to adapt. Remember that things will never be as good as you imagine them to be. If you are in debt, get out.

Re: Answering the Call
 

In my experience, if the call is real, it won't go away. You cannot force doors open. If it is real, it will unfold. I knew I had a call on my life as a teenager. I tried to force doors open before I was ready and a wise district board stopped me in my tracks. Although initially devastated, I remained faithful to God in my local church and 14 years later, it all began to fall into place.

I have seen men who thought they had a call on their life (and really may have) take the low road and tried to build a ministry without the "laying on of the hands of the presbytery." They severely limited their usefulness to the kingdom of God and sabotaged their future.