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4 Realities to Help Discern a Vocational Call to Ministry

Discerning a call to vocational ministry can be a tiring and trying experience.

I’ve had the privilege of speaking with numerous young people and couples who are possibly experiencing a call to full-time, vocational missions or ministry. They don’t always know what they are supposed to do — usually not — but they know their vocation is to be a part of the mission of Christ.

Talking with people at this stage of life is one of my favorite things to do. It fuels me in ministry to help others process their call.

Having also wrestled through this issue years ago with two teenage sons makes this something very personal to me. Obviously I have my own experience in this area of wrestling through a call to vocational ministry. My wrestling was a 10 year process.

The counsel I gave my boys came to me suddenly one day. I’m not pretending it was inspired, but it certainly is a product of my personal experience and time spent with God struggling through this issue. I’ve used this teaching many times since then.

Basically I like to help people understand that the “call”, in my understanding, is not a call to a group of people or a geographic location as much as it is to a person; the person of Jesus Christ.

That’s important, because a lot of times someone begins to sense a calling after a mission trip to a certain area and feel as if that is the place they must go to serve God. That may be the place God wants to use them, but it could be that God just wants their availability, right where they are or elsewhere and God used the specific place to stir their heart towards serving vocationally.

I’m not saying He doesn’t send people to specific places or groups of people, but I do believe He reserves the right to change that at any time, because ultimately a person is called into a relationship with God first and a location second. In fact, I’ve several times in my call sensed God was even giving me freedom to choose where I served

After establishing that the ultimate call is to the person of Christ, I share a few principles. These are actually realities — based on my experience — of the vocational call. These won’t make the decision for the person. I can’t do that. They are intended to help someone think through their calling. The person who is sensing a call can often begin to discern that this IS the call based on the way they respond to these four words.

Four realities of call of God on a person’s life is:

Irresistible

You can’t refuse this kind of call and still live at peace with God. He will still love you. You may even be successful in what you are doing, but something will always eat at you until you surrender to this type of call. (Think of Jonah on the boat, attempting to run from God — even before the storm came.) That was the case in my situation. As much as I wanted success in business — and I had some — none of that brought me peace until I surrendered to God’s will for my life.

Irreplaceable

Nothing else will satisfy a person like this call. Nothing will fill that void — that emptiness. If God’s greatest desire for a person’s life on whom He places the “call”. I found no real joy in my work, until I was serving in the career choice God wanted me to serve.

Irrevocable

God doesn’t take this call away from a person once He has placed it on their life. At times, especially when things are stressful in ministry, I have glanced at other opportunities, but I know I cannot go backwards from this call God has placed on my life. I may serve Him in a number of capacities and places over the years — I believe that could even be in business if He chose that. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as a pastor or in a local church — but I know one decision in my vocational career is solved — I work for Him. My end “product” of my life is advancing His mission — not mine.

Immediate

The call of God on a person’s life begins at the moment of the call. Often people want to get the right degree or start drawing a paycheck before they live out the call God has placed on their life. I don’t believe that’s the call. The call is to “Go” and the time is NOW. (Jesus taught this reality in Matthew 8.) That doesn’t mean the person shouldn’t gain education, experience, or even a paycheck, but if a person has received a call from God on their life the time to get started doing something towards that call is now! When I realized a vocational call to ministry was being placed on my life, I started immediately; with no promise of income or position. I simply started serving people. Opportunities and specific assignments quickly followed.

Are you feeling those four words heavy on your heart? Perhaps God is trying to get your attention.

For a Biblical example of this type calling which includes each of these four points, read Jonah’s story again.

Have you wrestled or are you wrestling through a vocational call to ministry? What was your experience?

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Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

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Join the discussion 35 Comments

  • Dave says:

    I am a full-time pastor in a major denomination. Of late, I have been considering this "calling." I know that what I am about to say may be outside the realm of possibility or field of vision, but consider it. I am daily coming to the conclusion that the "role" of pastor as seen in the modern church is a man-made position that does more harm than good. Whoa!! Did he really say that?!

    Don't any of you find it strange that nothing stated in the article or the comments is drawn from scripture? I challenge anyone to find the pastor position as seen in the church today in the bible. Start with something simple… show me where a disciple of Christ has a special title before his name.

    • ronedmondson says:

      Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate them. I don't usually debate on this blog. And, that's by choice. Honestly, if we want to be Biblical, maybe we would have criticized privately before in public.  I think your comment is short-sighted though. We hand out bulletins in our church. That's before the printing press, but I don't think they had that position in the first century. We have someone who fixes our baptistery. Not sure they had that either. We have a person who makes sure all the lights are turned on every Sunday. Again. Maybe we aren't even a church.   Tongue-in-cheek. In love. God bless 

  • Tony says:

    I have a question about number one (irresistible) about a year ago I felt like God was calling us away from our current ministry of youth ministry to become lead pastors. The thought of planting would not leave my thoughts. I spoke with my wife and she said she wasn't sencing that. I talked to my lead pastor at the time and he was 50-50 on it. I even took a church planter assessment test and I scored very low. As I searched for a position as a lead, every door closed and only one door opened up for me and that was a ym position out of state. I took this position by faith, and wonder if sometimes I made a mistake. I mean the church is great and family is happy. But as you said you can't refuse this and still live a peace with God. I'm just not sure if I'm supposed to be where I am or if I'm supposed to be planting a church even though my wife doesn't see it. Tbh I don't have this clear calling to do so or even a burning passion to do so. I just have this recurring though that maybe I am supposed too. I just don't want to run because of fear or lack of knowledge and both are true for me. Any advice would be great. If you would like to answer by email that would be good too. Thanks.

    • ronedmondson says:

      I'm afraid I can't answer that specifically. That's between you and God. I do think God will not lead you and your wife in separate directions.  One observation. Many times we don't “feel” led because of fear. I would just get with your wife and make sure that's not the issue. That's not unusual. It is scary to plant a church.  Praying for you as you discern. 

  • Branden M. says:

    Great article. As I began my studies at Southern, this is something I am listening for. My Systematic Theology professor asked the question “Why is it 80% of Baptist ministers are called to pastor churches less than 100 miles from their in-laws?” I am not saying they are wrong but it is peculiar.

  • Keith says:

    Excellent, thank you Ron!

    I will be eternally thankful to a pastor friend who helped me get "a handle" on this by asking me a question that his father, also a pastor, had asked him:

    "For the rest of your life can you imagine yourself doing anything other than the ministry? If so, go do that first before anything else."

  • Sunlight Sereno says:

    A life like built into maturity for I am in this life.concerned for the lost and reaching is one of the most had thing yet double.IN South Sudan with mission,Discipleship, planting churches is a challenge but putting head together makes better in the Lord Jesus.

  • Adele says:

    This is a new revelation in my life at 47, separated and with a four year old daughter. Never really occurred to me that I had a calling to Ministry – guess because of my unchurched upbringing. Now, this all makes so much sense, why Ive had no peace about my job, career direction. Ive been praying for years – since I was 20!!!! Not sure what to do with it now, except to step up in Church. But, I am Sooo relieved at knowing. and that call or pull, is so strong, I cant settle until I act. Still trying to get my head around it actually, I'm astounded, but everything is starting to make sense in my life.

  • sadra says:

    thank you very mch for your insight and explaation which is very clear and helpful. Please pray for me as my metor told me that I need to wait a little bit longer to be recommended for college studies to become a deacon. I felt hurt and discouraged but its true and clear that I have the call. From the day we had this meeting I now grid my teeth during my sleep 'preachig'! I have gone back to my minister who is now guiding me and motivating me read sylabus theological books to boast my 'call'! please pray for me …. sandra

  • Liz Hull says:

    My relationship with God has been deepening over some time but deepened significantly after going to Aglow meetings, being baptised in the Holy Spirit and taking a role on in our Aglow group. Recently another team member asked me if I had ever considered being a reader in the Anglican Church ( which I'm a member of) and as I laughingly said 'I've been trying to resist it for years'. I am wrestling with my calling, lay or ordination ( my dad was ordained missionary). Have a job with our church in administrative capacity, but know that any call into ministry will be non stipendary and unpaid. Hoping for a blinding flash of light moment but think I probably just need to take the next step. Feel called to be 'a living sacrifice' , 'to stand in the gap', ' to step up to the plate' , 'to serve'.

  • Andrew says:

    Hi Ron

    Thank you for this post. I've been wrestling with this issue for over a year now. I was in ministry for 10 years then left due to a number of circumstances. Have been distant from church for about 3 years now, working for myself and also for the government. Nothing I've done seems to satisfy and lately I've had some really significant 'signs' that I need to go back. I have a young family and I know the life of vocational ministry and I'm struggling to deal with the call. I don't know if I trust God enough to take us through, meet our needs and provide… That's the hardest part for me right now, I dont know how to talk about it with my wife or how I need to act on it… would really appreciate prayer and guidance…

  • Tammie says:

    This is so me. Called at age 45 to full time vocational ministry. Thank you.

  • @stokd4jesus says:

    I'm in this place RIGHT now. I'm 27, a year shy of getting a bachelors degree after switching majors, and dead broke living off the two small part-time incomes my wife and I bring in. Your four points sum it up very well! God has been calling me into a directional leadership role for some time (as you say it is irrevocable) and now specif. at our church where our head pastor has presented a vision. I went through a year of leadership "incubating" and God's saying now's the time, and I'm acting. God moves my heart too much not to act (irresistible). It's so clear a calling, I couldn't say no. I fear I face a tough task of convincing the leadership for the need for this specific position and at the oversight level it needs to be at (irreplaceable) and I also fear I need some kind of financial support, although as you put it, I've already determined that I can't say no even if it is volunteer, even if that hinders what I do (immediate).

  • Rindy Walton says:

    Great words! I felt a call to 'full-time ministry' which also included a move to help with a church plant. Funny thing is that even though that didn't work out, the move allowed me to do the full-time ministry, and a lot of that is in a 'secular' job right now! Not a doubt God called me to this & continues to put more in my heart which may also lead to 'paid ministry' again.

    • ronedmondson says:

      Absolutely. Every vocational minister is not fully fully supported financially by the ministry. Paul was a tent-maker. I had to supplement my income as a church planter early in our plant. Some never leave some form of secular work.

  • @DutchRiete says:

    Okay, "thirty-odd tears" has to be "thirty-odd years" of course … *grin*

  • @DutchRiete says:

    It doesn't necessarily have to be a call to ministry. I've been called to teach children, and especially kids with special needs. I've know this since I was six or seven years old. In the thirty-odd tears I've been doing this I've tried to change careers during difficult times, I've tried to "broaden my horizon" by studying at a Bible College to find a new calling but all to no avail.
    You are very right .. God's calling is irrevocable. And irreplaceable as I feel happiest when teaching 🙂

  • The thought of wrestling with this for 10 years scares me. I am a couple of years in and have only run into discouraging experiences. I can only accept this as part of God's training for me and keep pressing on. Thanks for sharing this helpful guidance. It is meeting me right where I am at.

  • timogle says:

    Ron,
    My experience has been similar. No matter how difficult the situation, whether with a group of people or personal situation, there was/is nothing that seems dampen the voice of the call.

    I do believe that anyone feeling that they are being called should have a group of people verify that the call is evident also. This doesn't mean a consensus from a few people that care about you and want to encourage you. This verification is something I recommend from Godly men and women that will pray with and for you.

    I would add one more thing. Desire, is not the "call." There must be evidence of discipline and fruit that is evident in the area you are feeling called towards. There have been many good men that I know who can preach but do not have the discipline, the interest or the heart of service that is required to be a pastor. A Bible college degree and the ability to speak in public is not verification that you or someone else has been called to "pastor."

  • Tom says:

    Great post Ron. Certainly splits me at the core of what my life's calling is to be. At 51, my last decade of life has allowed me to answer God's call to plant two churches, all the while working as a Hospital Department Director full-time. I've wrestled God over whether during this time I was to leave my healthcare job to enter paid ministry. That call has never been made completely clear by God. Ministry can be done…….in so many ways, if we are just wiling to be a part of God's plan, instead of our own.

    • ronedmondson says:

      I agree. I did ministry while doing secular work for many years. God doesn't ask all of us to quit our jobs. I've known many who wanted to but God didn't allow and many like me who resisted doing so, but God called them to. As you said, His will not ours.