CityView Magazine

faith The God of Second Careers By Chris Walk T he Bible is full of sto- lentless pursuit in another way. Gandalf invites Bilbo to join ries about God calling the dwarves on a great adventure. Though Bilbo is quite re- people into a second career. He called Moses, a tonguetied, temperamental middle-aged shepherd to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and into the Promised Land. He called Amos, a ���dresser of sycamore figs��� to become a prophet. He called the twelve Apostles, a rag-tag group of fishermen, a tax collector, and other ���uneducated, common men��� to go and make disciples of all nations. Even Jesus left the family carpentry business to begin his ministry. Indeed, our God is a God of second careers. Isn���t it fascinating, even baffling, that God���s redemptive plan involves calling ordinary men and women to vocational ministry? But as we think about these stories, an encouraging yet unsettling truth emerges: the people God calls sound an awful lot like you and me. Many of them did not start out in the ministry. They already had jobs that provided for their needs. Life might not have been easy, but it was safe and familiar. Then God spoke to them, and everything changed. I must ask, now that you have read this far: could God be calling you to a ���second career?��� Is God inviting you to play a unique role in his redemption story? As I reflect on my transformational story so far, I see that God has taught me valuable lessons along the way about being called to vocational ministry. If you are feeling called, I hope these lessons help you discern how God is working in and through you. My experience has taught me that God relentlessly pursues the called. I moved to the Fayetteville area from Ohio in 2005 to begin my career as a math teacher. While leading young minds to a better understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem, a growing restlessness took root within me. God was calling me to a second career, but I wasn���t sure of the details. It took years, but eventually, through prayer, reflection and conversations with my wife and friends, my call became clear. In one of my favorite stories, ���The Hobbit���, we see this re14 | January/February ��� 2013 luctant, Gandalf persists until Bilbo finally accepts the invitation. Gandalf understood that Bilbo would benefit from the experience but, more importantly, that he would become part of the grand story of Middle-Earth. Likewise, God pursues the called to leave the safe and familiar to take part in his grand story. God also provides for the called. I have sacrificed much to follow this road with God: financial security, certainty concerning my future and sleep. My wife has sacrificed much, as well. God���s call necessarily involves sacrifice, but it also undoubtedly includes his provision. We want for nothing because of the generous love of God through family and friends. Besides, wouldn���t it be quite foolish to think that God would call us without providing the means? Finally, God prepares the called. An aspiring doctor must go to medical school. Similarly, those called to any ministry should pursue theological education that is Christcentered, Bible-based, and ministry-focused. Over the last two and a half years, my preparation has taken place at Campbell University Divinity School. The work is demanding and challenging, but the reward is sweet. To say that God prepares us doesn���t mean we should expect to have things all figured out beforehand. God doesn���t necessarily call the equipped, but he always equips the called. The image of God calling us to ministry as a second career can be both encouraging and unsettling. It encourages because, through the call we realize God has created us for a significant purpose; it unsettles because we���re aware of the magnitude of the fact that the majestic, awesome Creator of the universe is pursuing us. If God is calling you, take heart. God���s work in us is meant to unsettle, but he will provide and prepare you in ways that you can only imagine. If you���re feeling a call to ministry, no matter where you are in life, I pray that God will give you ears to hear his call and courage to step out in faith to follow. CV Chris Walk is a seminary student at Campbell University Divinity School. He can be reached at chris23_98@yahoo.com.

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