Whenever I meet new people in my day-to-day life, our conversation usually begins with typical small talk about the weather or something else generally trivial. That is until the other asks “So, what do you do?”
My reply has often been, “I'm studying to be a minister.”
To which they generally respond, “Oh, that's good to hear – our country needs good leaders.”
And so I clarify, “No, not a politician; a minister in the Christian church.”
Even people who are members of a church congregation are generally surprised, albeit pleased, to hear of my aspirations. It is not typical for young people today to seek the ministry, and so I am often asked, “Why do you want to do that?”
I suppose the best answer to this question is that I don't want to do that, I am called to do that. Ministry is not a career like most professions, but rather a calling or vocation – it is initiated by God, and responded to by the person and the church. In fact, God calls all Christians to be “ministers” participating in God's ministry to the world. (1 Peter 2:9-12) And so, whether we are called to minister in business, or education, or caregiving, or the church, all Christians are called to a vocation which far surpasses our jobs or careers.
The minister of Word and Sacrament is called to serve in the roles of teacher, preacher and leader and to lead the congregation in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. This is for the continual renewal and nurturing of the church for ministry.
I had my first inkling of a call to ministry when I was about 15 years old. It was not an earth-shattering event, just the simple thought, “I could be a minister.” It's kind of hard to describe the feeling, but it seemed kind of foreign to me, as if the thought had not come from within, but from above. It was kind of confusing and kind of invigorating – I didn't quite know how to make sense of it. And so I kept quiet about it.
However, as time passed I began to hear elders and congregation members from my church remark that I would “make a good minister.” They were confirming the call that I had felt.
If I was confused before, I was scared now – “Me, a minister? I can't be a minister!” And perhaps that is the point – none of us, whether minister of Word and Sacrament or lay member of a congregation are capable of the ministry to which we are called. It is by the grace of God that we have the privilege of participating in the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Having been called to the role of minister of Word and Sacrament, it is my passion to help the church to understand the gospel, seek to live according to it, and faithfully witness to it, that the congregation's “love may abound more and more.” (Philippians 1:9) I look forward to the joys and challenges of joining alongside a congregation in worship and service, and sharing in life and ministry together.
