I accepted Christ just before my fifth birthday. I cannot remember ever not knowing about God and Jesus. I always knew God loved me. My father was a pastor, and it was a good experience for me. I understood in high school that God had a specific plan for my life. While working summers at church camp, God gave me opportunities to serve, learn, and lead and that deeply impacted my life. I watched God work through me. My parents never pushed me toward vocational ministry, so I never resisted it.

As I went through college, I steadily grew more interested in and open to vocational ministry. By graduation, I was ready to enroll in seminary to prepare either for missions work, teaching, or for the pastorate. While on mission for a year in the Philippines, God confirmed in me His desire for me to enter the pastorate. Seminary and a three-year internship at my church helped further clarify that sense of God's leading and preparation.

I am currently an outreach pastor. That means I oversee the implementation of church outreach events, train for effective outreach, and help spread the value of outreach throughout the church's ministry. I also teach, preach, lead services, do weddings, and fully participate as one of the pastors on staff. I believe I have the spiritual gifts of teaching and leadership, and they help me do what I am called upon to do. I am also an avid learner in a church environment that values learning, which prepares me to be more effective. I have had plenty of experience learning through trial and error, and I don't know how you can learn much without trying some things and making some mistakes.

I have had my ministry affirmed often through the helpful and kind feedback of others and through the objective accomplishment of various goals. It is a special joy to see people come to faith and know that I have had a small part in it. However, I have also ministered in settings that were unhealthy and challenging and became greatly discouraged in those times. Through it all, I have learned that anything I do that has spiritual impact on others is the result of God's primary work through me. I think I experience more joy, creativity, and courage in ministry when I am keeping in step with the Spirit.

To those just beginning to explore God's call on their lives, I would give the following advice. Go for it! Don't be bound by the misunderstanding that only vocational ministry is important ministry. Try things. Make some mistakes. Enjoy some successes. Learn from both success and mistakes, and trust that God has a better plan for your future than you do.