When a group of us from the congregation entered the associate pastor discernment process last fall, we were asked about our sense of "call to the ministry."  I struggled a little with that question because it stirred up some old thinking that I've carried around with me, namely that pastors receive a special call from God that says they are special and they can't go into the marketplace like ordinary Christians, but must go into church work.

We all know better, but isn't that how we've often talked about it?  We've emphasized the pastor's call to ministry, which then sort of assumes that the rest of us do not have a calling or are not in ministry.  That's consistent with what we see in the Old Testament where there was a clear two-track system - the priests on one track and everyone else on the other track.  But it isn't particularly consistent with what we see in the New Testament.

Through Jesus, God eliminated that two-track system.  In 1 Peter 2:9 we're told, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."  The word "you" in this verse is pleural - it means "you all."  Every one of us.  We are all priests now.  We are all ministers.

New Testament teaching is clear:  unless everyone - everyone - takes their own personal ministry seriously, the church simply will not work.  Paul said, "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." (1 Cor. 12:7).   Each one is given his or her part to play in the healthy functioning of the church.  And if we all don't contribute, the church becomes like a body whose arms or legs, eyes or ears, hands or feet do not work together.  The Body becomes handicapped, unable to do what it was created and designed to do.

Sometimes we feel like we don't have anything to contribute.  But Paul said we each are given something from the Spirit - a Spiritual gift - that is vital to the healthy functioning of the church.  The church needs you. 

There are several things you can do to help discover what your giftings are: 

• Pray about it. Ask God to lead you toward an area where you can serve him. Listen for his leading. You might already be thinking about a need in the church or community that "somebody should do something about." Maybe that somebody is you. Maybe it's on your heart because God put it there.
• Ask people who know you well where they think you will be most effective. Has anyone already affirmed something you've done in the church? That could be an indication of an area you are gifted in.
• Try a gifts discernment questionnaire. If you do a Google search for "spiritual gifts" you will find dozens of free online resources.
• Finally, the simplest thing might be...just jump in somewhere and see what's a good fit. If it doesn't work out, try something else. If you see a need, try to meet that need, and God will be faithful to bless your efforts. There are a number of ministry areas within the church where you could serve right now. Over time you can eliminate things that aren't a good fit and hone in on the things that you are good at. You are needed for ministry.

I don't believe that being called to ministry is necessarily some mystical, emotional encounter with God, although some certainly experience it that way.  But when I was asked about my call to the ministry, my response was that I told God a long time ago that I would do whatever he asked me to do.  My hearing isn't always the best, but I've said "yes" to a lot of things that I never imagined I would ever do.  And God has blessed me for it.  He is so good!

-- Craig Cordell, Associate Pastor