This will try to explain my current view of calling and ministry. I’m sure this will change with time.
As I understand my Calling(s), my first call is to be obedient to Jesus. Period. This colors everything else that I do. This takes precedent over every other priority and helps me to set priorities. Secondly, I’m called to be a husband. If I fail at being a good husband to my wife, then little else matters. That I put this before “being a father,” may surprise some. Please, understand: my son will learn how to be a good husband by watching how I treat my wife. The best thing I can do for him is love my wife with all that I am. Or, as Scripture points out, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” Next, I am called to be a Father to my son. I’ve been blessed beyond measure in my child. My church has lovingly given me a great amount of freedom in my schedule. They even gave me a paid months of paternity leave when my son was born. I’ve been able to spend time with him that other dads can only dream about. For this, I am extremely grateful.
Christ calls me to be the best Christ Follower, Husband and Father I can be. As I follow him in obedience, he shows me places to grow in these areas. I have no doubt that being a committed Christ Follower shapes me into a better Husband and Father. These three things are my primary callings; with the last two being directly affected by the first.
I have a vocational calling as well. I am called to be the pastor of First Baptist Church of Lake Worth. At the writing of this piece, I’ve been pastor of FBCLW for a little over six years. My calling is not to shape the church into something that I personally would desire to attend. My calling is to 1) provide a place where the congregation can experience authentic, culturally appropriate worship of their God, and 2) equip them for the ministry that God is calling them to.
I am confident that God is calling us to minister to the children of our area. In particular, that means we’ve made a commitment to the local elementary school. That works itself out in different ways. We collect school supplies for the beginning of school, and we collect tissues for the winter months. We try to provide mentors for the children, people to unconditionally love them. We offer programs such as Sunday School, VBS, and a Wednesday night time on a regular basis, as well as other stand alone events. We pray for the children of our area, especially those that attend the school. This isn’t everything, but it gives you the idea. I firmly believe that God is calling us into a deeper relationship with him, so that he can pour his love onto these children through us.
I am confident that God is calling us to regional church planting. Granted, we’ve not been very successful in this endeavor. In particular, we offer our facilities to any church start that needs a place to meet. At first, this is offered for free. Then, as they become able, they can take part in facility upkeep by giving a minimal amount to the church. This is soley dependent upon their ability. We are currently looking for another congregation to help out in this manner.
Finally, I believe that God is calling us to adopt an unreached people group. I am confident that God wants us to invest our lives into another culture. We are called to love them with our time, money, and giving ourselves to them in service. Yes, God will use that to transform us into something that looks more like him. But, primarily we desire to serve in obedience to him, regardless of any reward that might come from him.
