The presenters at the Mercer Preaching Consultation have been wonderful. I have heard some great lectures including Fisher Humphrey's amazing message, "The Preacher and Forgiveness." All the lectures have been helpful and inspiring but for me the most beneficial has been Craig McMahan's, "The Call" (Or,"Why I Didn't Do Something Productive with My Life"). McMahan is University Minister at Mercer.
McMahan said that we were in the ministry because God called and we each followed with our own yes. He challenged us to remember the day that our calling became a public event. McMahan said, "Anchor yourself in the sacred moment of your ordination. Remember that day - it will be bread enough for the journey." I have some friends at the Kettering Fellowship that allowed me the opportunity to remember that sacred moment recently and it was greatly affirming. I must be honest though and say that the grind of ministry and life's trivia often cools the fire of the divine call. McMahan offered ways to fan the flames. Using biblical call stories, especially Isaiah's, McMahan pointed to three important principles:
1. Pay attention to mystery. Be alert to the God that dances on the edge of knowing.
2. Cultivate grief. Pay attention to the brokeness in the world and in yourself.
3. Listen the the inner voice. The Holy Spirit's calling renews our call.
What is your "heard the call" story? How do you fan the flames of divine purpose in your life? What do you think of McMahan's principles?
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About Me
- Matt Snowden
- My wife's name is Meredith and together we have a beautiful daughter named Molly Katherine and a tough little guy named Wes. I am the pastor of the First Baptist Church in Waco, TX. I received a B.A. from William Carey College an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a D.Min from George W.Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University.
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8 comments:
Matt,
I first felt the call to ministry at the age of 15. While I didn't fully grasp the significance of it, I knew that I wanted to spend my life in vocational minstry. Having been a pastor for a while now, I must admit that there are times I wish I had a "regular" job. I gather strength from charaters in the Bible like Moses who had to deal with all kinds of troublesome peopole. It was his love for them that kept him going.
Even though being a pastor can be a tiresome job, knowing that I am making a difference that has eternal significance keeps me going. Through the study of scripture the Holy Spirit has reaffirmed my calling on several occassions.
Will,
Like you, I was young when I began to sense a calling to ministry. Other people in my church also began to discern God's working in my life. Did you have others "hear" it for you? What kind of role did they play in your spiritual growth?
Matt,
There were two people who also saw the call in my life. One of them was a youth worker at our church named Kelly. She is still one of the most precieous people in my life. Every time I am in Ft. Walton, I visit her and her family. The other was our youth minister. He was a mentor to me. He really helped me understand what ministry was all about.
I think that these types of affirmations are really important in discerning God's work in our lives.
I began my journey with ministry in a specific way when I was in Jr. High. Although, I can remember always thinking about ministry even as a kid. In high school I made a public commitment to the call and that is where it all went down hill. After becoming the poster boy for playboy living God put a stop to my rebellion in Hattiesburg, MS. In my Experiencing God group at Temple Baptist God healed my sin broken heart. BTW, Coach Knight was in my EG group! In the library at USM doing my daily work for the study god simply put it on my heart again. HEY YOU! I haven't changed my call on your life.
Perry,
When I was in the 5th grade I told my teacher I wanted to work with "the youth." I don't think I knew what a youth was but it was the only way I knew how to talk about what I was feeling. My teacher, Mrs. Harper, was a dedicated Christian and told my parents about it. I quess that was the first rattlings of the call in my life. I thought about doing other things but just couldn't shake the thing. God has been really gracious to us all.
Are you hmoe yet? I am jonesing for my weekly "off the reccord"!
I like the cultivate grief principle. We must feel the brokeness around us if we are going to have the compassion that christ calls us to have.
Yea I'm home. I'll post "off the record" tomorrow.
I like that principle as well. Almost all the presenters at the consultation quoted Beauchner (I think I messed up the spelling), "Our calling is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need." I think that there is alot of truth in that.
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