I suppose I was fairly young when I "felt called" to ministry. There was no amazing vision or angelic proclamation, just the sense that I should go in that direction. Unfortunately, like many at a young age, I had no idea what exactly that meant. I went to a Christian university where I studied the Bible, learned how to do exegesis and so on. I did my time in seminary where I learned some more about how to do exegesis and so on.
However, I've become enlightened a bit more in my old age. Ministry doesn't always turn out like it's supposed to. The "ideal" life of ministry is graduating seminary (or some other appropriate arena of training) and moving on to a church, who will pay you to minister in some capacity. There you will apply all that you learn and your church will love you forever.
For me, though, it's looked very different. I'm in a church, and I am ministering. I don't get paid, I'm not on staff and there's no chance of that happening any time soon. I'm fine with that, I love my church and have trouble seeing my future without being involved somehow. This is the church that I want to send me overseas someday, this is the church that has become my family here in Boston. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
That's not the issue. I have one simple problem: I don't know how to do anything. I'm currently working a job that uses almost none of my natural (or acquired) skills, nor is it something I particularly enjoy. The problem is that I don't really have much in the way of marketable skills in order to find another job. I only know two things: sports and the Bible. If I'm not getting paid to do either, I'm in trouble.
It's too late for me to pick up some skills. It's not that I'm old, I have time. It's a money issue, I already have loans to pay off, so I can't go back to school to do things I think I would be decent at. I think I would have made a decent teacher, especially in something like history. I would have been a great sports journalist (after all, I already know more than all those idiots, right?). I suppose there are any number of things I could do well, but at this point I'm fairly limited.
I always knew that ministry was more than working for a church. One can minister just as well in a non-Christian workplace as he can in a church building. I just never knew that I would be working in the "real world" (one of the worst cliches, I'm not sure what the "fake world" is). I never thought that I'd have to pick up a skill somewhere along the way in order to support my ministry habit like I'm doing now. I'm not complaining about my education, I wouldn't give that up, it's changed my life. But why didn't anyone tell me to double-major in college? Why couldn't I have been smart enough to realize this might happen?
Anyway, what I've learned is that preparation for ministry and preparation for life need to go hand-in-hand. Ministry looks less and less like the classic model as time goes on. The "lay minister" model is becoming more common, and thank God. I just never thought that'd be me. But praise God, because He wasn't surprised. And He just might have a plan to make it work out.
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8 comments:
Just might?
I know He does. My question is this: Your blog seemed rather relaxed about the situation, which is a good thing. But are you relaxed or are you freaking out right now?
Relaxed? I suppose I am-- sometimes. Obviously I'd prefer to have mad skills, like bow-fighting skills or nunchukas skills (did you know it was spelled like that?), but I can survive.
Honestly, here's where I struggle the most: paying off student loans. They are the biggest thing keeping me from heading overseas to join the great throng of missionaries.
But then again, that just shows my ignorance. After all, loans probably aren't really the main thing keeping me from going. In fact, I've coming to believe that my loans are the means by which God is keeping me here. That's where my last line comes in to play- He has a plan to make me ready. If that involves keeping me here, and student loans are the way to do it, well, that's a perfect plan. I'm making peace with it. Thanks for asking, it makes me think.
Ah, Ryan, I was hoping you'd respond, since you're in a similar boat. You're right, I know that I often look forward to when I'll be in "full-time ministry", when that's exactly what I should be doing now, whether I'm getting paid or not.
So how do we prepare people to feel called to ministry for this reality?
Danny- I'm not trying to be negative or discouraging, but my question is this: What if "full time ministry" never comes? Then what?
Steph,
I suppose that's just it. "Full time" ministry is not necessarily what we should be aiming for. It may happen, and I honestly hope it does, but it might not. That's why I'm saying I wish I would have learned to do something else along the way. I'm not all that equipped to do much else. Alas, such is life.
Ryan,
It's tough for churches, too. I mean, my church could never afford to send folks to seminary. Then we'd have to have the rich churches forking over the money so the small churches can send their people to seminary. What are we? Socialists? (this is where I need a smiley face)
What if there were an alternative to seminary? (I'm treading dangerous ground here). Something more tied to the local church, but still academically challenging. My church has this type of thing with our church planting and missions training school (although it's not all that rigorous). It doesn't take place of seminary, but it does combine the ministry of the local church with training for the future.
Such is life, yes. BUT I encourage you to lean into the Body. Determine what your other interests are and look within your community for opportunities to learn! I'll be praying for ya.
So I need to write a sports column for the church website? Awesome.
Sorry, I'm joking around and you're being helpful. Honestly, I'm not that concerned with it, at least not right now. When bills pile up and my church starts sending teams overseas, it'll probably hit me more.
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