God speaks through his word and in prayer - he confirms through people who know us and peace in our hearts.
I love this. Oh so much. Thanks for such a succinct piece of wisdom.
TBH, I think you are getting confirmation. You don't want to turn into Gideon.
God still used Gideon to accomplish his purposes, but I hear ya. Already spent too much time being a Jonah to wanna dilly dally if my purpose is clear and confirmed.
I've seen way to many Mommy called and Daddy sent preachers. Pray and listen to God. People will often tell you what they think you want to hear. God won't.
Ain't that the truth? God could tell me things like "I designed you to serve me in ministry, so become a spiritual leader" when I'd rather hear "do whatever you want; become a librarian, or programmer, or anything other than a pastor." Such has been my subjective experience, anyway. haha
Vocational ministry refers to someone doing ministry for a paid career. Something I am working toward to.
@Lorien: This. I'm speaking with respect to full-time paid ministry. I'd personally rather minister for free, but ministry is very demanding, and I think it'd be best to be able to focus on that ministry and know that survival needs are still being taken care of.
If you don't mind, why kind of ministry are you looking toward? Having a seminary education, I personally am big on encouraging formal preparation for ministry. That's not necessary tho, as God has many ways of equipping those He calls.
I have experience and training in worship ministry, but I feel the senior pastor role is more where I am bound to go. It's truer to my nature and gifts and sense of "what I'm designed to do." I, too, am a huge fan of formal preparation for ministry.
In fact, with feeling more or less that my calling to ministry has been confirmed through the input of those who know me best, who have the wisdom to provide guidance, and who I trust to be honest with me in their feedback, I'm strongly considering seminary as the next logical step. I'd most likely go to where I got my undergrad, Multnomah University, to get an M.Div. Part of the three year program requires two years of pastoral internship and a semester of practicum on top of that. I'd be getting formal and hands-on education and development while networking to be placed in a permanent pastoral position.
It seems very much the ideal next step. But it's still something that will require continued prayer and wisdom.
Thanks for all the feedback and prayers, everyone! Appreciate it a lot!
EDIT: To be totally honest, I feel my mind is already made up on attending seminary. I hate to feel like I'm being impatient and acting in haste, but there are just too many reasons to go for it. The goods far outweigh the bads. It's a huge decision, one I feel would be irrevocable; I feel it'd be a committing to a life of ministry. Going will come at a notable cost (especially in financial matters), but I think that's where growing in faith in God's provision and growing in my own personal responsibility and wisdom will have to come into play. I'm trying to remind myself not to move too quick, to be careful of confusing whim for calling, but this is the direction everything seems to be pointing.
