My “call to ministry” happened at a “kid’s kamp” (a Christian summer camp designed especially for children) in Western Montana (specifically Glacier Bible Camp in Hungry Horse, Montana).
I was 10 years old. During an evening camp service God powerfully made Himself real to me. We were invited to go to the “prayer room” located behind the “tabernacle” stage if we felt like we needed or wanted to pray. I did… and in that prayer time God made Himself very real to me – and “called me into the ministry.” In fact, I felt like if I didn’t say “yes!” to what I felt He was calling me to do, multitudes would be “lost!” … I did say “YES!” to God’s call that night…
Next morning during chapel… The camp speaker invited any of the children at the camp to share about anything they felt they had experienced with God the night before. I knew I had to share but was very timid and frightened. But I stood up and blurted out, “Last night I feel like God called me to serve Him in the ministry!” And then, because I couldn’t think of anything more to say, I sat down blushing and embarrassed.
When I did that, the camp director (a Montana “cowboy preacher”) stepped to the edge of the stage, looked out where I had sat down embarrassed, pointed at me and said, “Son, last night God told me He was calling you to serve Him in ministry!”
I thought of that experience again this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” as I read these words from Apostle Paul…
“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power… to preach to the Gentiles [the people of the world] the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:7-8)
Paul didn’t feel worthy of that call… and neither did I as a 10 year old child (or now at age 77)! And my determination in light of that call is best expressed in my “life verse”…
“I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I have received for the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God!” (Acts 20:24)
Coffee With The Lord 