MY CALL JOURNEY

In 2003, I attended the first week of the Youth in Ministry Student Leadership Conference. When I was in high school, I honestly didn’t think too much about serving as a full-time minister in a church. At that point in my life, my dream and passion was to become a Navy Seal. I was active in my youth group and devoted to Christ so when my Youth Pastor asked me to consider going to this new conference for students interested in leadership and some interested in vocational ministry, I figured it would be ok to discover what it was all about. Little did I know that the experience would help change the course of my life.

The YiM conference offers daily Bible study, challenging speakers, incredible worship, and the practice of many spiritual disciplines to help you learn how to hear God’s call in your life. There are also multiple workshop tracks such as youth ministry, missions, worship ministry, preaching that you choose to attend. I attended the preaching workshop and discovered that at the end of the week, I would have to present a short sermon. I was terrified and for the first time in my life, I really had to trust in God. I had to have faith that He would not allow me to be totally humiliated.

Everything about the conference was powerful. The teaching, worship, and small group discussions were great, but what really set the week apart for me was the time spent sweating over my sermon. It was frightening yet a very spiritual experience! I had great mentors throughout the week that helped me to brainstorm, outline, and prepare the message. They were patient and encouraging and I truly enjoyed the time I spent with them.

On Friday of the conference, I was nervous. I couldn’t eat or think about anything else but presenting the sermon. I thought to myself, “Get through these 8 minutes and you’ll never have to do it again.” I learned a valuable lesson that day. Romans 10:11 states, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” I prayed hard all of that week and asked God to help me because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.

God did not forsake me. Once I stood before the group, a calmness came over me and I preached the sermon without seeming nervous to anyone. I remember starting to speak and feeling a sudden confidence that I had lacked the entire week. God was with me through that short sermon, and as trivial as it may sound, it was a huge building block for my faith.

Now, in 2009, I see how preaching is to be part of God’s plan for my life. I’ve preached many times in front of much larger audiences than I did that day at the YiM conference. I applied to attend the Naval Academy but was not accepted. Yet through the affirmation of several Godly people in my life, I came to realize that God was calling me to vocational ministry. I wish I could say that I pursued ministry after the conference but I did not. It’s been a long road from high school to where I am today. While attending Milligan College, I walked away from the call to ministry and spent a few years restlessly chasing other things. But through God’s mercy, He called me to pursue youth ministry and I’ve strived to be faithful to the call for the last two years.

Currently, I serve with youth on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, a place where few people have heard of Jesus. After a lot of prayer and a “chance meeting” on a mission trip to Morocco, I felt God leading me to work at Wind River. I moved to Wyoming, not knowing anyone or where I would live or what I would do to reach Native American youth. I simply believe with all of my heart that this is where God wants me to serve.

Honestly, it’s been the hardest thing that I have ever done and it’s demanded every ounce of faith that I have. Remember the story of young David from the Bible and how his faith grew as he faced lions and bears that threatened his sheep? Those experiences prepared David for more intimidating challenges such as Goliath and King Saul. When I look back on my experience with Youth in Ministry, I see how God used the preaching opportunity to help build my faith. Because God has never forsaken me in the small things, I trust Him with things that are more intimidating today.

The YiM conference helped me to hear God’s call for my life and it pushed me to trust Him in everything I do. I’ll always remember that week as a pivotal part in my journey to full-time ministry. 

MY CALL JOURNEY

In 2003, I attended the first week of the Youth in Ministry Student Leadership Conference. When I was in high school, I honestly didn’t think too much about serving as a full-time minister in a church. At that point in my life, my dream and passion was to become a Navy Seal. I was active in my youth group and devoted to Christ so when my Youth Pastor asked me to consider going to this new conference for students interested in leadership and some interested in vocational ministry, I figured it would be ok to discover what it was all about. Little did I know that the experience would help change the course of my life.

The YiM conference offers daily Bible study, challenging speakers, incredible worship, and the practice of many spiritual disciplines to help you learn how to hear God’s call in your life. There are also multiple workshop tracks such as youth ministry, missions, worship ministry, preaching that you choose to attend. I attended the preaching workshop and discovered that at the end of the week, I would have to present a short sermon. I was terrified and for the first time in my life, I really had to trust in God. I had to have faith that He would not allow me to be totally humiliated.

Everything about the conference was powerful. The teaching, worship, and small group discussions were great, but what really set the week apart for me was the time spent sweating over my sermon. It was frightening yet a very spiritual experience! I had great mentors throughout the week that helped me to brainstorm, outline, and prepare the message. They were patient and encouraging and I truly enjoyed the time I spent with them.

On Friday of the conference, I was nervous. I couldn’t eat or think about anything else but presenting the sermon. I thought to myself, “Get through these 8 minutes and you’ll never have to do it again.” I learned a valuable lesson that day. Romans 10:11 states, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” I prayed hard all of that week and asked God to help me because I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.

God did not forsake me. Once I stood before the group, a calmness came over me and I preached the sermon without seeming nervous to anyone. I remember starting to speak and feeling a sudden confidence that I had lacked the entire week. God was with me through that short sermon, and as trivial as it may sound, it was a huge building block for my faith.

Now, in 2009, I see how preaching is to be part of God’s plan for my life. I’ve preached many times in front of much larger audiences than I did that day at the YiM conference. I applied to attend the Naval Academy but was not accepted. Yet through the affirmation of several Godly people in my life, I came to realize that God was calling me to vocational ministry. I wish I could say that I pursued ministry after the conference but I did not. It’s been a long road from high school to where I am today. While attending Milligan College, I walked away from the call to ministry and spent a few years restlessly chasing other things. But through God’s mercy, He called me to pursue youth ministry and I’ve strived to be faithful to the call for the last two years.

Currently, I serve with youth on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, a place where few people have heard of Jesus. After a lot of prayer and a “chance meeting” on a mission trip to Morocco, I felt God leading me to work at Wind River. I moved to Wyoming, not knowing anyone or where I would live or what I would do to reach Native American youth. I simply believe with all of my heart that this is where God wants me to serve.

Honestly, it’s been the hardest thing that I have ever done and it’s demanded every ounce of faith that I have. Remember the story of young David from the Bible and how his faith grew as he faced lions and bears that threatened his sheep? Those experiences prepared David for more intimidating challenges such as Goliath and King Saul. When I look back on my experience with Youth in Ministry, I see how God used the preaching opportunity to help build my faith. Because God has never forsaken me in the small things, I trust Him with things that are more intimidating today.

The YiM conference helped me to hear God’s call for my life and it pushed me to trust Him in everything I do. I’ll always remember that week as a pivotal part in my journey to full-time ministry.