My Calling: What If My Calling is Unusual?

June 15, 2009

By Contributors to ninetyandnine.com 

For so long, the idea of a calling was viewed as falling directly into specific ministry categories, and those of us without whose skills didn't land in that set, were left to do things other than church work.  But what about those of us who know we are called, but whose callings fall outside of the normal categories?  How do we pursue it?   

We'll be covering related questions in the upcoming weeks, but--as always--we'd like you to share your thoughts on these questions. 

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How do you pursue that calling, especially if it's atypical for Pentecostals?  
 

If you have one of "those callings", I think you should feel blessed and be extra excited. Pursue it. We, the Pentecostal movement, are in desperate need for "atypical Pentecostal callings".  

In addition, pursue it with purity of intention and with the sincerity of your heart. 

Travis Carter from Staten Island, NY, starts by telling people his name and then explains what he does. Not the other way around. He is also nocturnal by nature and enjoys breakfast the night before.   
 

Atypical it may be--but out of line with the Word of God it cannot be. Bear in mind that the Bible says, "a man's gift will make room for him." You don't have to pursue or force anything. You wait . . . on His timing, on opened doors, on His good pleasure. You seek godly counsel from your pastor (and parents). You move carefully, circumspectly, with caution; particularly when you are considering venturing into the perimeters or periphery. Haste - rushing into things - is one sure way to learn how to deal with regrets and recriminations. And shipwreck is a hard way to go.  

I think it is better to follow your calling than to pursue it.  

As she retires from the workaday world, Marjorie Kinnee is entrusting her future to the safest of all hands and seeking His face while she waits on His leading.  
 
 

For me, education is the number one way I have pursued my calling. Education equips me and gives me the security to know that I know what I'm doing is the best that I can give.  

My dad taught me how to pursue a calling that is atypical for Pentecostals. My dad was an ARMY Chaplain with the UPCI for 19 years. First he attended Texas Bible College for four years back in the '70s. Then he took a step that was totally atypical for Apostolic Pentecostals... He attended a Catholic Seminary and received his Masters of Divinity. 

He had to choose a Catholic seminary because at that time there was no Apostolic graduate school, and the University of St. Thomas in Houston was the only one that would accept TBC's bachelor's degree issued at that time.  

Many people were against my dad and the other men that made that choice. They were afraid of all of them becoming Catholics, and some of them did. However, my dad knew what he believed and he knew what he could handle in his faith. Acquiring his M.Div. allowed my dad to serve US soldiers and bring many of them into the Apostolic movement. There are many families now a part of our movement because my dad took a step of faith and went into a field that most Apostolics were afraid of at that time.  

As for me, I am not sure exactly where I'll end up in my career, but tomorrow I have an interview for a staff reporter position at a large newspaper. Is this job atypical for Pentecostals? Yes. Will it put me in touch with people that I otherwise would never be able to witness to? Yes. God will use me in a unique way because I was willing to get the education and experience necessary to be put in this type of position. All for His glory!    
 

Rachael Hartman is an aspiring writer, editor, and graduate student. She loves going on adventures to places she has never been, and meeting people of various cultures and backgrounds. In her off time, she gets childhood joy out of winning Prada purses and blackberries through playing Sorority Life on Facebook.  
 

That is a great question. After really feeling that this was my calling I 
spoke to my leaders at the time. Since this was a new concept of ministry a 
lot of them felt that their parents were to "Pastor" or help the MKs. They 
did not feel that this was a vital ministry or needed in our organization. 
Later I was at a regional conference for missionaries and spoke to a 
Regional Director's wife there. She agreed that this was an urgent need and 
challenged me to write a letter to the current Foreign Missions Director. I 
wrote him several letters. Since Harry Scism was an MK he also saw the need 
of this ministry. His wife wrote a newsletter for the MKs called "The 
Sunbeam". This was later carried out by their daughter Loretta Scism. The 
next year I received a letter inviting me to teach at the School of 
Missions. That opened the door for me work with MKs every year. I have been 
able to do that over the past 16 years.  
 
Later, Harry Scism formed the MK Association. This was the beginning of what 
today is known as MK Ministries.  Many great MKs worked with this 
Association to form a great foundation that MK Ministries now stands on.  I 
later became the secretary of this ministry and we changed the name to MK 
Ministries. I still felt that urgency that we needed to take this ministry 
to the next level. Up until that point all of the leadership was volunteered 
and that limited our ministry out-put. After much prayer and much council- I 
sent in a proposal to be the full time work force behind MK Ministries. We 
had seen the results that just part time work had done- and now knew that 
the Lord was urging us to a greater ministry. The Foreign Missions Board 
unanimously approved the proposal. It took one year to raise the partners in 
missions for this position to start.  The Lord has done so much in one 
year's time of full time ministry. Not only are we seeing the results of the 
MKs from the UPCI but also with MKs around the world. Our website- 
www.upwithmks.com was recently listed in the top five websites for 
Missionary Kids. Twenty years later I am seeing what God had in mind when he 
called me years ago to help those MKs around the world.  
 
Cylinda Shirley Nickel serves as the MK Ministries Assistant Coordinator and Office Manager. She, her husband and two girls currently call NC home. 
 

Ask for insight from others. And when asking, don't just ask the folks that you think will agree with you. If you sincerely want to do what is best, then you will glean additional insight from those whose thoughts and backgrounds may be different from your own.  

If your pathway is so atypical that there are few others who can give you specific insights to the spiritual challenges you will face, then by all means continue to make yourself honestly accountable to folks who look out for your soul. I recommend 2 or 3 others who have complete freedom to challenge your decisions and actions.   

Travis Miller is a husband, father, and cyclist. His ongoing challenge in life is to become a better human.  

 
Prayerfully. If you are certain of your calling and it takes you outside the "typical" A/P mindset, you will encounter people who just don't get it. By remaining prayerful, you'll be able to respond in humility to these challenges, rather than reacting with frustration or anxiety. The Bible gives us several examples of people who were truly called of God, but were also truly misunderstood when they acted on that calling. Don't worry--God's calling comes with an open door in His timing. Only one human being can keep you from living in your calling: YOU. If you are hearing from God regarding His calling and His timeline, obstacles (including Pentecostal "inside the box" thinking) will be removed. 
 
In addition, here are some brief tips: 
 
1. Communicate with people you trust--with your spouse, your close family/friends, and your pastor. (If you don't trust someone on this list, that's another problem entirely!)Make sure your inner circle is aware of your calling and enlist their prayers and support.  
 
2. Keep the main thing the main thing. While the calling of God is important, it's your relationship with God that's vital. Be aware that we can focus so much on the pursuit of our calling that we forget to pursue the One who called us in the first place. 
 
 
Melissa Fross is pursuing her calling by becoming a counselor (a process that can drive one to become the couselee instead). 

I think we are in a time where God is challenging His Body to reach outside of the box, which can be difficult.  Two things come to mind in pursuing a calling, both are related: source and focus.    

Where is this calling coming from?  Is it indeed from God or perhaps a hidden motive in your heart influenced by expectations placed on you by yourself or those around you?          

If this is indeed from God then focus is necessary.  Keeping your heart and mind focused on Christ as you follow the path He has placed before you is vital as it will keep you in check with the source and will keep you humble. Do not let disapproval detour your focus. However, keep community in mind remembering that to serve is to help and never to harm.    

Amanda Rushing is currently work full time at Edward Jones in MO and just graduated from Urshan Graduate School of Theology with her Master of Divinity.  
 

I view a calling as a natural response to a God given passion. God has made us all unique, with different interests, outlooks, thought processes, and dreams. One person may be passionate about graphic design, and another may have a heart for orphans. Whatever drives you is probably a good indicator of God's calling in your life. So pursuit of a calling is really a pursuit of your passion - even if it's not for pulpit ministry or singing, the two biggest highlighted Pentecostal ministries.

The key is to allow God to use your passions for His glory. So if you enjoy restoring old cars, find a way to make that a ministry. For example, invite someone that may need encouragement to help you work on the car. Let God take your interests and use them for Kingdom purposes. 
 

David Bunch is a passionate pursuer of God.

What would you say to those with unusual callings? Tell us here.

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