My Calling: How Do I Encourage Others In Their Calling?

June 29, 2009

By Contributors to ninetyandnine.com 

For those of us who have found our callings, we see others struggling trying to determine the place God has for them and to understand that not all callings are usual.  We asked several people to share ways in which we can all encourage those around us to find their place in God.   

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What's the best way to encourage others to pursue their calling? 

Pursue your own, then take time to listen to others who have their own callings. 

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. 
 

Pray peace upon them.  
 

Prayer--With and for them

Encouragement--Give them your blessing

Appreciation--Of their endeavors to follow Jesus' leading

Consideration--Become sensitive to their struggles and the obstacles they face (more prayer!)

Excitement--Rejoice with them, celebrate their victories   

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.  
 

I have found that helping a person to see their own strengths and talents encourages them to pursue their calling. As a graduate student in the field of counseling, I've learned a lot about personality and career assessments... When I am encouraging someone to pursue their calling, it is not as formal as administering an assessment or test to help them discover their best fit, but I do use the knowledge that I have to help guide them into discovering their talents and setting goals for themselves.   

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.  
 

If you feel called of God to a certain ministry don't ever doubt that calling. He has equipped you and given you the talents and ability to fulfill that calling. You are the one that has to pursue, cultivate, and motivate yourself in your calling. I think I am such an instant person that I had to learn that life is a process. I felt called of God in my early 
twenties- but only saw the fulfillment of the calling at 40.  The 20 years between the calling and the fulfillment of the calling were the years of equipping. The people that I met, worked with, experiences that I had, the sorrows, the victories were all shaping me for what God had in store for me. I still was ready to do whatever doors He opened but it was a slow, steady journey.  Don't give up--He gave you the vision, the desire, the dream--and He will bring it to pass! 
 
Cylinda Shirley Nickel serves as the MK Ministries Assistant Coordinator and Office Manager. She, her husband and two girls currently call NC home. 
 

We can do this by acknowledging that being a Christian means we all follow & practice fundamental spiritual principles; however doing so does not dictate that we live “cookie-cutter” lives in this natural world.  

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

 
By pursuing your own calling as God directs and giving God the glory. Paul understood that as He followed God, others would follow his example. If you are courageous enough to act on God's direction, others might just get the crazy idea that they too can follow the path God has for them. If you then openly give God the glory for His work through your calling, others will take notice. It doesn't matter if you're called to be an attorney or a children's pastor, if you give God praise for what He has called you to do, you will inspire the people around you to do the same. 
 
Melissa Fross is pursuing her calling by becoming a counselor (a process that can drive one to become the counselee instead). 
 

Help them to explore their calling (and the source and their focus) by conversations and prayer. Though I find this difficult I think it may be important to stay away from too much advice giving.  Most people know the answers; they just need people to help them realize they do, and then encouragement to trust the Spirit inside of them that is guiding them.   

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

By encouraging them to pursue their interests. Maybe a person is feeling led to go back to school to get a degree in social work or education. Whatever the case, God wants to use your unique talents and abilities for His Glory.  

David Bunch is a passionate pursuer of God. 
 

Now we need to hear what you do when you encourage others in their calling! Tell us what you do! 
 

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