The Power of a Calling
In the Spring of 2024, Ram Trucks began their marketing campaign, "The Calling." The campaign featured celebrities like J.J. Watt, Glen Powell, and Jaydin Smart and encouraged people to pursue their passions in life. The tagline reads: "At Ram, our passion is to build trucks. So, when you find your calling, nothing can stop you from answering it."
Like the campaign suggests, discovering your calling brings a sense of purpose and perseverance. For me, that calling came when I was just eleven years old. Even though it took me a few years to surrender to that call, I knew nothing inside me could stop me from answering it. God had given me a passion to share the story of Jesus with teenagers and to disciple them. I answered that call fully after my twentieth birthday. That passion has sustained me for 39 years-26 of which I spent in the same church-serving young people. My hope remains the same: that they will come to know Jesus and live for Him.
The Biblical Foundation of Calling
In the Bible, there is a distinct, general call for all Christians to go and make disciples, but I also believe that, for some, God gives a specific call toward specific ministry, like youth ministry. It is from that specific call that youth leaders can thrive in longevity.
Jesus, in Matthew 9, tells His disciples to pray that God would send out laborers for the harvest. Yes, all Christ-followers are laborers in the harvest field, but some are called out specifically for focused tasks. The Bible is replete with those whom God called out specifically and uniquely to serve Him in some special kind of way.
In the Old Testament, God called out Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. In the New Testament, He called out the Apostles. In Ephesians 4:11, the Apostle Paul shares how God uniquely calls some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers "...equipping the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."
Yet, despite this clear biblical precedent, the modern church often treats ministry as just another role to fill. There are several factors that contribute to this, but none are quite as pervasive as the lack of understanding and teaching of a specific call to ministry.
The Danger of a Diminished Calling
It's unfortunate that many churches and teachers have diminished the call to ministry to a role or position that can be filled by any warm body willing to step into the role. Thank God for short-term laborers willing to take on a task to support their church, but those who enter the role without passion or calling will quickly find the exit door when overwhelmed, or when the job becomes complicated. It is that embedded passion and calling from God that gives youth leaders the drive, endurance, and tenacity to labor for the long haul.
Traditionally, called-out missionaries would leave for foreign fields knowing that they might never return to their homeland. The task of sharing The Gospel with strange people-groups with a different language, the hard labor of surviving less-than-ideal conditions, and the prospect of dying at the hands of unreceptive tribes were counteracted by a deeply embedded call, resolve, and belief from Sovereign God that He called them to go. Those who are role-fillers easily leave their posts because they don't have a call upon their lives for stick-to-itiveness.
The key to longevity in ministry is knowing and cultivating your call.
Identifying Your Calling
How does someone recognize a call from God? For those still searching for clarity, here are a few practical ways to discern a ministry calling:
- Prayer and seeking God's guidance
- Seeking wise counsel from mentors and spiritual leaders
- Trying different ministry roles to discover where passion and gifting align
- Paying attention to where God is already using them effectively
Cultivating Your Calling
Identifying a calling is just the beginning. Ministry longevity requires nurturing that calling through intentional growth and support. Here are some ways to cultivate your calling:
- Ongoing spiritual growth (prayer, scripture, accountability)
- Developing skills and training relevant to the ministry
- Finding mentors and a supportive community
- Maintaining self-care and avoiding burnout
Overcoming Challenges in Ministry
Even with a clear calling, challenges will arise. Doubt, burnout, and discouragement are common struggles. Scripture offers many examples of leaders who wrestled with these feelings. Elijah, for instance, wanted to quit, yet God renewed him through rest, provision, and a fresh encounter with His presence. When ministry becomes difficult, returning to the foundation of God's calling provides strength and perseverance.
A Call That Anchors and Propels
My call to ministry has helped me thrive and cultivate longevity. When the going gets tough, I default to that ever-present call upon my life - a call to bloom where I am planted, despite the possible odds. For me, my call to ministry has been both an anchor and a sail. It anchors me by giving me stability in the God of refuge. As a sail, my call sets me forth to foster my passion of seeing more teenagers changed by the story of Jesus. Like the Apostle Paul, I can confidently say: "I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God's heavenly call in Christ Jesus."
Rekindling Your Calling
If you're in ministry, take time this week to reflect: Have you lost sight of your call? How can you rekindle it? If you're unsure of your calling, ask God to reveal it and take a step of faith in service.
Your calling will be both your anchor and your sail.
Will you embrace it fully and trust God for the journey ahead?