How do you deal with this..?

[mahalia]

hi there... i'll jsut jump right into it - i know that God calls me for the ministry and it's a passion of mine that i have had since 2001, if not earlier.

but how do i deal with people telling me that i should go somewhere magnificent (i'm top in my class and could be anything i wanna be - doctor, engineer, advocate, actuary, anything really).

people are constantly reminding me that i can still work for God even if it is not in the ministry - but what if that is not my passion??

oh, and lastly... the church i was born into is hectically consevative and needless to say, as a feminist, i do not fit in, and the only reason i haven't been "kicked out" is because they're too conservative to kick me out!! i hardly even go there anymore lately anyways, i go to other churches that agree more with what i believe... but is this not a poor start to a lifei n ministry??

 

[Autumnleaf]

Are you saying you want to be a leader in a church where you feel uncomfortable as a member?

 

[mahalia]

no, i want to be a leader in the church of God - not the church i was born into (unless God calls me to go there), but wherever God may send me.

 

[Autumnleaf]

If it is right you should do it.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Do you know what fmnsts teach ? It is very much against Scripture (God's Word and Instructions)

 

[mahalia]

Do you know what fmnsts teach ? It is very much against Scripture (God's Word and Instructions)

i know what feminists by definition "teach" and that is equality for both men and women. i don't give for the radical feminists because they defy what i stand for. as for the rest, i will not go into a debate regarding that as that is bound to derail the little there is to this thread.

 

[BrBob]

OK, back to your original post.

What is it that you want to do? I mean, really want to do with your life in the immediate future?

Try this: Concentrate on what the Lord has put in front of you. He has made you with particular wants and desires and those wants and desires will change over the years to some extent. I would guess you have probably heard some adult in your life tell you to slow down, take it easy, you don't have to make all of your decisions about your life in the next few months! Well, it's true, even if nobody has ever told you that.

Example. When I was 17 years old I was politically fairly leftist. This was in 1972 - 73, by the way. It was a different world! Now, I'm 51 years of age and I see life differently. I look back on some of the opinions I had when I was 17 and chuckle or at least shake my head! I've changed, grown and matured. Life has taught me many things and it will teach me a bunch more before I'm done.

So, my advice? Accept the call and keep it in the back of your mind. Search out God's will in the Bible and talk to Him about it. Ask the Lord to lead you by His Holy Spirit and allow Him to mature you. You may find that your objections to your current church are really small things. He may call you to a different type of full-time ministry that involves a pastor's heart. He may call you to a part-time ministry that involves a pastor's heart and it's possible that neither one of them may resemble the idea you have in your mind right now..

Go ahead, accept the call and allow Him to lead you. Don't let your opinions get in your way. Just follow Him where He leads

Be blessed

Bob
Spearfish, SD

 

[mahalia]

thank you i'm such a confused person when it comes to the details of my future, but your advice really helps. thanks God bless you.

 

[djsterf]

Yup, seek the Lord HARD about it, and expect an amazing journey!

He gave His life for us, and it's the least we can do to give our lives for Him in whatever we do (especially ministry).

 

[ski]

If you feel God is leading you to ministry go for it. People who say go somewhere magnificent like being a doctor, engineer, etc. are diminishing the role of a minister. What could be a more magnificent job than leader people to eternal life with God? Doctors and engineers are great and all, but they only help people in this world, ministers help people in this world and the next.

 

[visio]

hi there... i'll jsut jump right into it - i know that God calls me for the ministry and it's a passion of mine that i have had since 2001, if not earlier.

but how do i deal with people telling me that i should go somewhere magnificent (i'm top in my class and could be anything i wanna be - doctor, engineer, advocate, actuary, anything really).

people are constantly reminding me that i can still work for God even if it is not in the ministry - but what if that is not my passion??

oh, and lastly... the church i was born into is hectically consevative and needless to say, as a feminist, i do not fit in, and the only reason i haven't been "kicked out" is because they're too conservative to kick me out!! i hardly even go there anymore lately anyways, i go to other churches that agree more with what i believe... but is this not a poor start to a lifei n ministry??

I had a similiar experience... ever since I was quite young I felt this strong impression that I was meant to go into the ministry in some way.

If you feel God is calling you do not ignore that because friends and family are pushing you to become "somebody" - You should pray about it and ask God to show you what to do...

About your church... you speak of it as conservative. What is this according to? Your believes or the bible? You need to find a church who walks closely with the bible and what it teaches... most claim they do but really study it out, see what they believe in and goto the bible and see what it really teaches.

If you want to talk about it send me a pm. As I said I have had a similiar experience and I know God has a plan for each of us... we usually don't follow it though.

 

[Lulav]

Ministry does not necessarliy mean being a Minister. We are all called to ministry of some type. You can be a doctor and still minister for G-d in that place. Why not see what your strengths and weaknesses in this area are?

Take this test and use it to help guide you by what you are strong in, in the secular fields. http://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm#begin

Here's another link you might want to check out http://www.layministry.com/home.aspx

 

[kallenfranchise]

Just make sure you go by the Bible (teaching everything, leaving nothing out). Make sure its not a ministry of convenience or certain beliefs (do not cherrypick the Bible), make sure its a ministry of God (of what the Bible says). If you are going to be a leader, then you must teach the right thing. God is going to hold you accountable.

God Bless You on your ministry!!

 

[Sadpenguin]

You could always do both. You don't have to have a building to have a church. You don't have to have a certification to have a ministry.

 

[mirma]

If God really calls you into a full-time ministry, then He will do it in His ways, and in His time. Sometimes we try to figure out what He's going to do with our own perspective. So my advice to you is simply do what is in front of you right now and be accountable with it. Then, in His time, when He sees you ready, He will bring you there.