Advice on career

[Zango11]

Hi there, I would really love to get some Godly opinions on the career I’m thinking of persuing.

I graduated university within the last year where I studied a degree in theatre and performing arts. At the time of applying to unis I had the mindset of training to become a professional actor. (Yes I was young and naive and this was also before I completely gave my life to Christ, although I did have a faith even then.) After graduating I was pretty certain God had different plans for my life even though I left uni with an acting agent. After a few months of attending auditions and gaining bit parts here and there, I’ve discovered that progressing in this career is less about your ‘talent’ and more about what your willing to do. If a role requires excessive swearing for example, the production company will find someone who is willing to comply rather than change anything.

I’ve often thought perhaps God wants me to persist with acting and being the light in this rather dark industry, however I can’t help but think that this is a dream of the flesh and not something God is calling me to.

I work as a ward assistant in a hospital as my survival job and I really enjoy helping patients. I love getting to know them even though the circumstances can be sad. An elderly Christian man I got to know over a few weeks suggested I look into hospital chaplaincy- I know his intentions were good but I nearly had a fit! There’s no way I Would have the skills to become ordained! However, since this I can’t help but think maybe God is nudging me to join in some form of ministry. I also volunteer at the youth groups at church and am enjoying these.

I know this is something I will continue to pray over and seek wisdom from those who know me but would it be wise to ditch Acting completely and focus on my current job and possibly seeking more ways to serve in church?

I’m still in my early twenties, single, living with my parents and a bit confused!
Thanks for reading, your advice is appreciated!

 

[Albion]

In my humble opinion, you majored in a field that does not offer much in the way of financial compensation to more than a few people...and many of them haven't bothered to get a degree in it anyway. In short, you need to find another career.

On the other hand, you apparently have been trained to communicate well, be empathetic, and so on. That is probably why the suggestion was made about you thinking of becoming a chaplain. While that would require a whole new education, and it is not a pursuit that you are sure you would want, you could pursue training in some field that involves interpersonal communications (such as hospital work) and act in community theatre as an amateur at the same time. You never know what might come along if you keep your hand in, but counting on it is the problem.

 

[GreekOrthodox]

To follow up with what Albion said, there are careers related to acting that require the types of skills such as performing, speaking in front of crowds, and telling stories on the stage. Those are quite valuable in most fields. I started off as a chemical engineer and now I run a communications program for hospitals. I have to spend most of my days communicating with staff (clinical and non-clinical) and help them to communicate more effectively. Even though I dont use organic chemistry or plant design in my job, my engineering analytical skills are always in use. As for a hospital chaplaincy, you need to talk to the church you are with to find out what they require for those types of programs.

 

[Joined2krist]

I think you'll find fulfilment in careers that requires empathy. Hospital chaplaincy sounds nice to me, God bless

 

[Jonathan Mathews]

Hi there, I would really love to get some Godly opinions on the career I’m thinking of persuing.

I graduated university within the last year where I studied a degree in theatre and performing arts. At the time of applying to unis I had the mindset of training to become a professional actor. (Yes I was young and naive and this was also before I completely gave my life to Christ, although I did have a faith even then.) After graduating I was pretty certain God had different plans for my life even though I left uni with an acting agent. After a few months of attending auditions and gaining bit parts here and there, I’ve discovered that progressing in this career is less about your ‘talent’ and more about what your willing to do. If a role requires excessive swearing for example, the production company will find someone who is willing to comply rather than change anything.

I’ve often thought perhaps God wants me to persist with acting and being the light in this rather dark industry, however I can’t help but think that this is a dream of the flesh and not something God is calling me to.

I work as a ward assistant in a hospital as my survival job and I really enjoy helping patients. I love getting to know them even though the circumstances can be sad. An elderly Christian man I got to know over a few weeks suggested I look into hospital chaplaincy- I know his intentions were good but I nearly had a fit! There’s no way I Would have the skills to become ordained! However, since this I can’t help but think maybe God is nudging me to join in some form of ministry. I also volunteer at the youth groups at church and am enjoying these.

I know this is something I will continue to pray over and seek wisdom from those who know me but would it be wise to ditch Acting completely and focus on my current job and possibly seeking more ways to serve in church?

I’m still in my early twenties, single, living with my parents and a bit confused!
Thanks for reading, your advice is appreciated!

I college, I could have been:
A) An army officer
B) An engineer
C) A campus minister or Army chaplain

I was confused. But I read the Scripture that says "Many are the plans of a man's heart, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 19:21) Also I read "Commit thy ways unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will cause them to succeed." (Psalms 37:5).

So I prayed saying "Lord my plans are [A,B, and C]. I commit my future to you. Do with me as you will." And since then, He has shut down every one of those options and made me into a Data Analyst for the State of Indiana. I now have an IT career with plenty of opportunities, great pay, and a chance to make order out of chaos everywhere I go. I am very content and thankful for God's closing all doors and opening a new one.

 

[com7fy8]

Hi, Zango Welcome to Christian Forums And thank you for sharing such personal things with us; this is encouraging to have you interested, like this, in pursuing all God has for you and those who can benefit from you obeying the Lord

progressing in this career is less about your ‘talent’ and more about what your willing to do.

And there are other things. Also, it is possible they might change things in a script after you have agreed to do what you thought you would be required to do. Something undesirable might be added later; of course, there might be contractual things to protect you in such a case . . . or not.

Also, I see how ones at times in a show can be arguing, screaming, expressing how they are suffering emotionally. And I think of how this could effect an actor or actress, because the one acting might be trying to become the person so the acting person can be more convincing. And becoming depressed or vengeful, or arguing could have an emotional and spiritual effect on the one play-roling these things . . . giving oneself to representing such things. Also, if you are expected to do a scene many times, in order to get it right > having an argument and screaming who knows how many times might not be good for you, even though you are play-acting it.

being the light in this rather dark industry,

Yes, we can be justifying what in fact we want to do. Also, there is darkness in the medical profession and family households and ministry.

In ministry, by the way, we need to stay prayerful so we do not wear and burn ourselves out and get ourselves tangled and mangled (2 Timothy 2:4) in trying to control evil and people >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

As you grow and keep doing good, there are ones who might want to use you; but make sure you keep with what God has us doing.

I work as a ward assistant in a hospital as my survival job and I really enjoy helping patients.

So, possibly, you now already have your mission field and yourself to give you support! And God can have you discovering others who are also doing what He has you doing.

I love getting to know them even though the circumstances can be sad.

Of course, and if someone does die or leave, you can discover who God has you loving next.

An elderly Christian man I got to know over a few weeks suggested I look into hospital chaplaincy- I know his intentions were good but I nearly had a fit! There’s no way I Would have the skills to become ordained! However, since this I can’t help but think maybe God is nudging me to join in some form of ministry.

It is good to have mature seniors, but ones might not always be correct. There are seniors who have refined themselves with Christian culture, and others who have matured in Jesus. So, you are right to evaluate what any of us say >

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

You might have more time to be with each person, than a chaplain has; plus you can be more personally involved in their situation and care. And you can see more of what is going on with them.

And I think there are chaplains who will tell you there are things of visitation which no seminary can teach you. But with God you can discover what you can't get in seminary! And it is possible the Christian man can see how you are able to comfort and love people . . . like to how visiting chaplains can do; and so he thinks this means you need seminary; but may be already God has gotten you started in all which is His labor, which is for all of us, actually >

James 1:27

And chaplains can give you things which they know have helped them from seminary. You might ask a chaplain or two what they think.

So, keep on being blessed and blessing. Thank you

 

[Andrew77]

Hi there, I would really love to get some Godly opinions on the career I’m thinking of persuing.

I graduated university within the last year where I studied a degree in theatre and performing arts. At the time of applying to unis I had the mindset of training to become a professional actor. (Yes I was young and naive and this was also before I completely gave my life to Christ, although I did have a faith even then.) After graduating I was pretty certain God had different plans for my life even though I left uni with an acting agent. After a few months of attending auditions and gaining bit parts here and there, I’ve discovered that progressing in this career is less about your ‘talent’ and more about what your willing to do. If a role requires excessive swearing for example, the production company will find someone who is willing to comply rather than change anything.

I’ve often thought perhaps God wants me to persist with acting and being the light in this rather dark industry, however I can’t help but think that this is a dream of the flesh and not something God is calling me to.

I work as a ward assistant in a hospital as my survival job and I really enjoy helping patients. I love getting to know them even though the circumstances can be sad. An elderly Christian man I got to know over a few weeks suggested I look into hospital chaplaincy- I know his intentions were good but I nearly had a fit! There’s no way I Would have the skills to become ordained! However, since this I can’t help but think maybe God is nudging me to join in some form of ministry. I also volunteer at the youth groups at church and am enjoying these.

I know this is something I will continue to pray over and seek wisdom from those who know me but would it be wise to ditch Acting completely and focus on my current job and possibly seeking more ways to serve in church?

I’m still in my early twenties, single, living with my parents and a bit confused!
Thanks for reading, your advice is appreciated!

Rule number 1. Don't stress about it. You are single, early 20s, living with your parents. There is no fire, no doom coming, no reason to stress.

You said you gave yourself to the Lord, correct? If you have read your Bible, you know that the Lord takes care of his own, and you are one of his now.... correct? Then trust in that, and wait.

So what can you do now? Take a year to do some missions work, is what I would recommend. Go around the world, and help people worse off than you. Or you can even do trips inside the US, and help people. Join a disaster relief troop.

But spend a year doing that, and by this time next year, I would wager that you'll have a better idea of what direction you want to go in.

 

[FutureAndAHope]

Hi there, I would really love to get some Godly opinions on the career I’m thinking of persuing.

I graduated university within the last year where I studied a degree in theatre and performing arts. At the time of applying to unis I had the mindset of training to become a professional actor. (Yes I was young and naive and this was also before I completely gave my life to Christ, although I did have a faith even then.) After graduating I was pretty certain God had different plans for my life even though I left uni with an acting agent. After a few months of attending auditions and gaining bit parts here and there, I’ve discovered that progressing in this career is less about your ‘talent’ and more about what your willing to do. If a role requires excessive swearing for example, the production company will find someone who is willing to comply rather than change anything.

I’ve often thought perhaps God wants me to persist with acting and being the light in this rather dark industry, however I can’t help but think that this is a dream of the flesh and not something God is calling me to.

I work as a ward assistant in a hospital as my survival job and I really enjoy helping patients. I love getting to know them even though the circumstances can be sad. An elderly Christian man I got to know over a few weeks suggested I look into hospital chaplaincy- I know his intentions were good but I nearly had a fit! There’s no way I Would have the skills to become ordained! However, since this I can’t help but think maybe God is nudging me to join in some form of ministry. I also volunteer at the youth groups at church and am enjoying these.

I know this is something I will continue to pray over and seek wisdom from those who know me but would it be wise to ditch Acting completely and focus on my current job and possibly seeking more ways to serve in church?

I’m still in my early twenties, single, living with my parents and a bit confused!
Thanks for reading, your advice is appreciated!

The bible tells us "trust in the lord with all your heart and he will make your paths straight". Some times we don't know the direction we are to take in life , but as we trust in the LORD, just follow Him, he will move us naturally in the right direction.

I started out in lots of dead end jobs, decided to become a teacher, then moved into Web Design, I now do web site design and love the job. I have also had opportunity to minister to some of my clients. As an example a clients daughter had a disease that was incurable, I asked if I and the church could pray for her, he said yes, and she was healed. Ministry can come in many ways not just through church events.

 

[sea5763]

nvm