What’s Your Calling?

Typically, this question is asked of those looking to enter full-time ministry. Yet, it’s my conviction that this is an unhelpful thought process rooted in Western Christianity. I’d like to propose the idea that discovering your calling and living it out is a foundational step for discipleship.

• What if every follower of Christ, after receiving the Gospel, then understands that a purpose and plan has been laid out for them to fulfil?
• What if this understanding was embedded in the discipleship DNA of the local church, and weaved throughout the ministry structures?
• What would serving and spiritual gifts, relationships and responsibilities look like inside and outside the church, if every believer had a calling, not just the paid ones?

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

Discovering Your Calling

Part of my calling is to guide individual believers to uncover God’s purpose and plan for their lives. I’ve seen firsthand how discovering their calling leads to a more fulfilling discipleship journey.

Whether you’re reading this post as someone wanting to discover God’s calling on your life or as a church leader looking to help people discover their calling, here are some of the ways we’ve been able to implement calling into our ministries.

Discover Your Calling in Ministry Leadership

This is particularly evident in our ministry team model, where ministry leaders build teams of volunteers, always pointing to our Gospel goal. However, they choose to lead a particular ministry out of a unique calling that the Holy Spirit has placed on their heart.

Each year, the team is asked to submit a set of “Mission-Vision Goals” along with objectives and a coinciding budget. This further determines their calling, but now within an annual context, so they can see God’s calling lived out in their ministries year by year.

For those in the early stages of ministry leadership, or unsure of exactly what God might be calling them to, discovering calling can be found in a mentorship or apprenticeship program.

Discover Your Calling in Mentorship

Our mentorship program brings young adults between 18 to 30 into a covenant relationship with the church for one year, where they learn and grow not just as disciples but as leaders. This covenant is a literal one-year written agreement that both parties sign, committing to a deep, mutual commitment.

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Contrary to the belief that younger generations can’t or won’t step up, we find that they are indeed seeking such meaningful relationships from older generations, rather than merely being assigned tasks. The covenant aspect reiterates the intention to discover their ministry calling.

Discover Your Calling in Apprenticeship

This past year, we also offered a Church Leader Apprenticeship, similar to our mentorship but for adults over the age of 30. The content is even more directed at finding a place to lead in the local church.

For those who may, in fact, be called into ministry, our pastoral (or ministry) apprenticeship is the next level. It’s connected to the “Immerse” program with Northwest Seminary, which integrates “Competency-based theological education (CBTE)” within a local church context.

CBTE is an educational philosophy that represents a significant paradigm shift in theological education. All of our CBTE programs are designed with the end in mind, with a focus on the actual vocations and ministry contexts that students are or will be leading in. Particular emphasis is given to:

• The knowledge, skills, and character essential for ministry leadership
• The daily, monthly, and annual work of ministry leaders
• The practices and habits of reliable and creative ministry leaders

nbseminary.ca/academics/cbte/

A key component of this formal program is centred on helping participants establish a deeper, more long-term understanding of their calling, rather than solely engaging in Biblical academic pursuits.

The Connection Between Calling and Gifting

There will always be those who have no interest in ministry leadership, and who are apprehensive about entering into a formal mentorship or apprenticeship. In fact, that’s likely most of the people in a local church.

For those folks, we need to address calling in our preaching, and it helps to connect it with Spiritual Gifts. I suggest that at least once each year, there is a focus on the Holy Spirit, helping the congregation hear and apply the Spirit’s calling and gifting, and how they’re connected.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

This past year, we introduced a teaching series titled “Cultivate” focused on the Fruit of the Spirit, followed by a series titled “Habits” focused on Spiritual Disciplines. Within both of them, there were pointers to calling and gifting as the congregation learned about the Holy Spirit.

For Pastors and Ministry Leaders

As you reflect on your journey, recognize that the Lord might be guiding you to focus more on helping individuals discover their calling this year. Perhaps there is a leading to maximize their spiritual gift potential within their calling.

In this next season of ministry, consider transitioning your efforts toward assisting congregants who have not yet identified their calling and gifting. This will enable them to better fulfill their discipleship as followers of Christ.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Host Workshops and Seminars: Organize events specifically aimed at helping individuals identify and develop their spiritual gifts.
2. Offer a Spiritual Gifts Inventory: Provide tools and resources, such as surveys or assessments, to help people discover their gifts.
3. Offer a Mentorship Program: Invite individuals to be mentored by you and other ministry leaders who can guide them in understanding and using their gifts as part of their calling.
4. Integrate Teaching on Calling and Gifting: Regularly include teachings on how calling and gifting connect with discipleship to raise awareness and encourage exploration.
5. Encourage Small Group Discussions: Foster environments where people can discuss and explore their gifts and calling in a supportive community.
6. Provide Opportunities to Serve: Create serving opportunities within the church that allow individuals to explore their potential calling while practicing and developing their gifts.

By implementing these suggestions, you can help your team or congregation discover their calling and use their spiritual gifts, leading to a more fulfilling discipleship journey.

Join the Conversation; Share Your Thoughts

1. How has discovering your calling impacted your discipleship journey?
2. What methods have helped you or others in your church uncover their spiritual gifts?
3. In what ways can church leaders better support individuals in finding and living out their calling?