In 1994, I attended an Exaltation class at my Bible School, which was held in a large church near Tulsa, Oklahoma. I had been saved for about five years at that point, and I was earnestly seeking God to understand what He wanted me to do with my life and potential ministry.
Recognizing the Call: Understanding God’s Purpose
The Director’s wife entered the class that day and shared that she had prepared a lesson but felt led to take the class in a different direction. She said, “There are some students here who know they are called, but they don’t know what their purpose is in Christ.” I immediately felt like she was speaking directly to me!
How to Discover Your Calling
What she shared that day turned out to be life-changing. She said, “If you want to know what you are called to do, I recommend that you step out and volunteer for six weeks in every area of ministry. Don’t overthink it—just go do it and be a blessing to others for six weeks. After six weeks, based on the grace and anointing you experience, you will know if that is part of your calling or not. If it doesn’t feel right, move on and try something else. By the end of a few months, you will clearly understand your calling by sensing grace, anointing, and passion in these areas.”
Experiencing God’s Direction: Volunteering to Find My Calling
I entered this process with no clear idea of what God had called me to do. We started by volunteering in the children’s ministry, where we were assigned to the three-year-olds. At that moment, with seventy three-year-olds in the classroom, it took only 70 seconds to realize that I was *not* called to children’s ministry! 🙂
Finding the Right Fit for My Calling
Despite the challenges, we persevered for six weeks, doing our best to be a blessing. After the six weeks, I walked away without any doubt that children’s ministry was not my calling. We then volunteered in the nursing home ministry, and it felt a little better, though we eventually moved on after another six weeks. We continued this process, moving through various areas of ministry until something truly felt right.
A Life-Changing Moment with Dr. T.L. Osborn
Then, someone gave me a videotape of Dr. T.L. Osborn ministering in India. T.L. Osborn was one of the greatest missionaries of all time, and he is credited with revolutionizing the ‘gospel crusade’. He preached a simple message of Jesus, gave an altar call, and signs and wonders followed. That video touched my heart, and I knew then, “If I could, that’s what I want to do with the rest of my life.” I began to learn from various missionaries, and the more I immersed myself in this ministry, the more right it felt.
Following God’s Call: The Journey of Ministry
After graduating from Bible school in 1995, we continued helping missionaries while also developing our own ministry. Since then, God has taken us to over 50 nations, where our ministry has seen 1.2 million souls saved. We’ve planted over 1,000 house churches, primarily in a closed nation, and we are currently working on building our 64th church building. All glory be to God!
Gratitude and Glory to God for My Calling
I want to begin by saying that I wouldn’t have my next breath if God didn’t give it to me. If there be any glory, let it be unto Him. The journey I’ve shared is to remind you that God has a specific purpose and plan for you, and your giftings and calling are meant to fit into the body of Christ to help advance the gospel to the nations.
Living in God’s Perfect Will: The Key to Fulfillment
You will be most effective and feel the deepest peace and fulfillment when you are operating within God’s perfect will for your life. When you function in your calling, you will experience God’s presence in ways you never imagined.
Conclusion: Identifying Your Purpose and Calling
Take time to follow a similar process to identify your purpose and calling. Give your all to advance the gospel through your unique gifts, and you will be fulfilling God’s plan for your life. As you do, you will be walking in your highest level of effectiveness in Christ!
