My Call

I realize I have shared bits and pieces of this in the past. Bu don’t think that I have shared it at one place with any one person. I believe however that I have been prompted by the Holy Spirit to do so now.

I title my call to Officership with the words that I said for a long time growing up about ministry in general “I’m glad I don’t have to do that”. But, as He often does, God has other plans.

I grew up in the church. My family was very active in the church and the ministry of the church, working behind the scenes to make sure ministries and activities were carried out. This type of work interested me very much and was what I felt at home doing. I watched those in leadership, especially the pastors with whom my family often became friends, with great admiration and with the thought “I’m glad I don’t have to do that”.

In my college years I was asked to be a delegate at-large to the then North Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church. I served for two years, and had a blast. I loved every minute of both of those conferences. I loved learning the more about the inner workings of the church, I loved the speakers and the worship. It was all wonderful to me.

It was at one of those conferences that the theme was “Equipping the Saints” with the theme verse coming from one of Paul’s letters, (But I don’t remember which one). The idea, at least the one I got, was to prepare the both the leaders in the church and the members with the tools and resources needed to serve. It was with that idea that a new program was introduced, one which would provide the participants with a certificate in Youth Work, Religious Education, or Music once the course was completed. It was new, but I knew God was telling me that was where He wanted me. So I secured the funding and started the program in the fall. I saw it as a way to get a validation to working with youth or children in the church. I even began to open my eyes to do something other than teach, which I had wanted to do since I was six.

Through the program I was placed to work with a brand new fledgling Corps in Conway, Arkansas. I was working with Sunbeams before the Corps even had Corps status. From the little Sunbeam troop my involvement grew, mostly through the friendship with the Corps Officers, who befriended me. Through my work in the Corps, my then fiancé, Steven was brought into the Corps. {In fact his entrance into the building was one of the most visible and literal answers to prayer I have ever seen, but that is a story for another time.}

I loved the work and again I was in the background working to help the ministry happen, much as I had done growing up. And again, I watched the Officers with admiration and with the thought “I’m glad I don’t have to do that.”

I was asked to be a part of a special planning meeting and Corps Council led by a Divisional Staff Officer Captian (now at least Major) Sandra Definbaugh. She shared her story with us and began leading us in planning for the ministry of the Corps. It was during her prayer for the ministry of the Corps and those of us sitting in that meeting that God plainly spoke into my heart saying “You WILL be doing this, as an Officer.” I wasn’t too sure of myself, so I didn’t say much. I wasn’t even a soldier yet. Steven hadn’t even entered the building yet at that point. However, I just sat and watched as God worked, bringing Steven into not only the building, but also into the work of the ministry. He even led Steven to ask the questions about Soldiership that brought us to classes and enrolling as soldiers on the day after our wedding. We have literally been soldiers about 20 hours less than we have been married.

That call was 15 years ago. Many would say it has been wasted time. Through that time I have let my enthusiasm wane at times, questioned God and His reasoning, and even stubbornly said maybe I need to look elsewhere. But God has been faithful and kept that nudge that call alive through all that. He also has renewed that love and enthusiasm in both Steven and me. As I looked back through the years I have seen His faithfulness and His teaching that I can and will apply in my future ministry.

I am ready to continue the journey, ready to step through that door.