Why I Want To Be A Ministry

I often hear people say “I knew I was called to preach the gospel” or “ministry is in my blood.” For many years, even into adulthood, I thought ministry was only about preaching. I did not understand the depth of ministry until I became intimate with God. I realize that those who said they were called to preach are only seeking out a job because true ministry is a lifestyle. My spiritual journey began in early childhood. However, unlike many others who grew up as pastor kids, the long boring years I spent in church services deterred me from wanting to go into ministry. Even into adulthood, I went to church but that is all I wanted to do. I wanted to go to service, listen to the pastor, give my offering, say amen then go home and proceed with the rest of my life. In fact, this cycle and my view about doing ministry continued until my late 20s. As a seminarian looking back on my childhood, I discovered my family’s church habits were the norm for people at that time. My grandmother did not believe women should to wear pants because they were things that “pertain to a man (Deuteronomy 22:5)” and the skirt should always be a modest length. I could not see it at that time, but, unknowingly, while I was grumbling and complaining about my clothes and the time we spent in church, the other believers were instilling biblical values in me that would manifest later in life. My relationship with God between ages 18 and 26 is similar to the people in the last

My spiritual values and my connection to god and my church drive me in all things to be as christ like as I possibly can. Tho not studying for a ministry career I feel I will still have many encounters through god and in my walk with him. Pope Francis says “When we can see God reflected in all that exists, our hearts are moved to praise the Lord for all his creatures and to worship him in union with them.” This quote speaks very much into what I’ve been instilled through my time seeking our Lord. When surrounded by a group that loves and follows god as much as I do, I can see nothing but good things

Ministry is more than just choosing a vocation for life; ministry calls the individual and beckons them to follow. At 53 years of age, I have taken a long journey to get to where I am today in ministry, yet I can say with all honesty, "I have not yet arrived." In describing the ingredients to a lasting ministry, Kevin Miller states, “A ‘call’ to ministry is not easily defined, but nothing could be more solid to most pastors. The call of God is

For 17 years God has blessed me to serve alongside my husband as directors of Chi Alpha at the University of Texas at Arlington. During my time here, I have served and mentored hundreds of young women and internationals who now fulfill the mission of Chi Alpha in the marketplace and the world as pastors, missionaries, police officers, nurses, teachers, and social workers. I am especially thankful to walk with those students who came to faith, experienced discipleship, and the Holy Spirit empowered their lives through the ministry.

Word of Faith is over 10 years old and still going strong. We currently have a State Licensed Childcare and Preschool that operates in Pueblo, Colorado. We also serve in Denver, Colorado where my husband Pastor Greater St. John Baptist Church. He has pastored at Greater St. John for over 2 year. Understanding the need to seek the Word of God for myself and having the desire to serve Him whole heartedly, I embarked on my journey in 2009. I had a fear of not being successful in college due to my failure of not completing High School based on a lack of a ½ credit. This was a secret that I kept for years for my children because, I wanted them to be successful in High School and not be distracted by my set back. In 2009, after much prayer, I decided to share with my children what I had experienced. They had all graduated High School by then. Following and being obedient to God to share my story with them, they all encouraged me to go forth and achieve my High School Diploma. I called Goal Academy and set up everything to visit them. I complete my Diploma in a short time. I was only a ½ credit short but I had to take additional classes to be enrolled there. I completed the classes with a

My journey began approximately twenty-four years ago when I began volunteering in the summers at the local nursing home and at summer camp as a camp counselor with children and adults with special needs. This was when I realized that I felt good when I helped others and that I cared about their well-being, health and happiness. At that time, I sensed that God was calling me to care for others and meet their needs but I was still unsure as to how I could accomplish the task.

I have been a missionary kid ever since I was approximately ten years old. I have lived in South Africa for a total of about 6 years within 3 terms. My dad was a successful businessman, but one day he felt the Lord calling him into full-time ministry. I can recall him telling us as a family about what was happening. Before we even went onto the mission field, God was placing in me a personal zeal for people. I remember receiving a picture in my mind of me playing with the kids in Africa and doing crafts with them. I told my mom and dad about this picture, and we began collecting craft supplies from craft stores around our area. It was a really awesome project and some people even heard about it and stopped by to give what they had. I was able

As I plan to embark on a lifelong journey of full time ministry, I better understand the need for a deep passion of lifelong learning. Culture is shifting and changing, leaving minsters with the challenge of keeping pace to reach people in a dark world. Paul talked about the necessity of relating to the people we are trying to reach in 1 Corinthians and Highlands College has better equipped me for this task. To successfully maintain a lifestyle of learning, I plan to continue my studies of scripture, deepening my understanding of the scriptures while learning new ways to apply them in reaching society. Jesus gave us the example of being light in darkness in the Book of John and, as I continue to be who God has called me to be, I know it is of absolute necessity to know the truth of God’s Word more than ever before but, I do not only plan to study just scripture. I have learned the necessity to study other topics to better prepare and equip me for ministry. My limited worldview shined a bright light on my need for better understanding, not only of God’s Word, but also the cultures represented around me. I plan to continue studying those cultures so that I may better shine the light of God’s Word into those places. Highlands College has amplified the need to continually grow in all areas so that I may be better prepared to reach people as God

on the right path ever since. When I started going to church with my wife, I felt a calling

The summer following my senior year in high school, I was called to serve in the, “Virginia Richmond Mission,” for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was anticipated that I would serve for a period of eighteen months. This was a voluntary decision: one that would require I leave my home, family, and loved ones behind to focus all my time and efforts on serving others and sharing the good word of God. I knew that this experience would have a huge impact on my life and help me to build my character.

The word of God has brought me through some of the most difficult times in my life. Almost three years ago now, my family suffered a great loss. It really affected me. There was a point in time when I let the pain and guilt of that tragedy eat me up. God brought me out of that dark place I was in and He made my faith stronger. God revealed to me that He has a greater plan. Today, looking back I see how God used that tragedy to help grow my faith in the midst of the hurt. Now I can talk to and be there for people who go through the same thing. Where we are in life, when we are in God’s will, is exactly where we need to be!

One of my God-given gifts is nurturing, especially, the hearts, minds, and spiritual growth of young people. I was infused with the command to “go and teach.” I have walked with teens on their road to God for the past 40 years. I continue to minister to, for and with them through youth ministry and catechesis in my parish.

However, church became stressful. I was engaged with numerous responsibilities in the church; I contributed as a choir director, a praise dancer, and a Sunday school teacher. Even though I was in well-inspired, creative activities in the church, I did not apprehend the purpose of trusting God. More importantly, I never knew what my purpose was here on Earth. I decided that my life was an obscure coincidence; truthfully, I

My call to ministry was actually not my own doing. At the start of my Christian life, my mother and grandmother raised me in the church where I would sacrifice my life to be a part of ministry. I participate in different ministries as a child. I became a choir member at an early age. Then, I became a praise dancer, a junior deacon, and a Sunday school teacher. This transition to different ministries became a part of my true purpose for God: to fulfill His purpose in my life.

When you first begin a class you never know what to expect. When I first began Intro to Ministry, I did not know the level of insight that I would have about myself and about the character of God. I have been able to combine the things that have happened in my past and things that are happening now to try to paint God's picture in my life to come. Although you do not need to pinpoint the exact moment in time when you received your call for it to be legible, I am thankful that I do. I think it was a series of people and events unfolding in my life and God opened my eyes to the plans He had for me that lead me to that night. The day that I accepted my calling to be a youth pastor (December 30,2015) I did not go into that evening thinking “I’m going to listen to God and go into Ministry” - but I guess you never do. Since then God has been preparing me emotionally, physically, and mentally through programs that I have gone through, people in my life such as my friends, family, and professors I have gotten to know during the short time that I have been at Indiana Wesleyan. I am nowhere close to being where I want to be but that is the beauty of accepting God's call into any type of ministry, you do not have to have it all figured out, you just have to trust Him.“God is a God of infinite variety, and His call comes to people in many ways.” (Drury, K. Pg.67). I didn’t receive my calling in a damascus road way, instead God knew my heart and character so He gave me my calling in a