As I sit here at this crossroad in life, I wonder why God has called me off the expressway. I now can see that he has prepared a new path or direction for my life. His path does not have the flashing lights or wide shoulders but is purposely designed for my part of His plan. He has shown me this path many times before but today He has invited me to take my first steps on this path that promises adventure into a life that He has called me to.
Before I take my first steps, I look at the path behind me. I reflect on the times God has touched my life. He has opened so many doors of opportunity for me. For the last nine years, I have had the opportunity to serve others in the banking industry. God has placed new opportunities to allow me to grow and succeed very quickly in a short period of time. After graduating from college and withdrawing from a masters program, I was working as management in retail sales at a local department store chain. God opened a position looking for college graduates to train in the banking industry. This training provided a solid total picture look at the processes of banking. These firm foundations lead to great success as I climbed the corporate ladder.
I feel strongly that God used this time to help me to grow in service to others by training my ability to listen to hear not what is wanted but what is needed in a persons life and build confidence in being able to counsel people especially when what they need to hear is not what they want to hear. God used this time to train me to desire calling on people in their place of work offering my services and listening to their concerns or dreams.
Looking back begs me to ask, “Where is this path leading me?” The path has been wide, mostly smooth. It is familiar, easy. His path appears narrow, as a way of drawing me closer to His side as we walk together. His path shows promise of beauty and wonder, unlike the blur of the old expressway. He is showing me how my training may be used for His glory.
He has shown me this path many times before, yet He had more work to do in my life to prepare me for the acceptance of the life He has chosen for me. He brought my family back to the United Methodist church even when I wanted to find a church outside of the Methodist doctrine. He continually places Asbury alumni in my path.
Shortly after declaring that I would not be interested in joining another Methodist Church, my wife, Amy, was invited by the Bergmans to visit their small Methodist Church. I was not interested, but trying to be considerate accepted the invitation. My first impression was what I had expected and confirmed my decision to avoid the Methodists. However, God, through the Bergmans and Amy, was persistent. The Bergmans were infectious. I found myself becoming drawn to these “strange” people. I found myself looking at his life wondering if it would be something I would want or could do. Could I find satisfaction or pleasure in the role as a pastor?
I was raised in the Methodist tradition. My parents attend another Methodist congregation in town. So my walk with Christ began with my dedication and baptism. Like Terah, Abraham’s father, my father became complacent and missed his calling. So I believe God has called me to fulfill this mission. God has spoken to me in various ways. Often the “voice” of God has the familiar sound of my wife’s voice. Regrettably, I often fail to hear Him through her. In anticipation of the journey ahead, Amy has begun preparations for our family and patiently waiting to be led down His path by her husband.
My earliest memory of God showing me this path was when I was very young and still in grade school. Our family went to visit a great aunt in a nursing facility. She was very sweet and a Godly woman. I remember the shock of only being introduced to this person and having her inform me that I was to become a pastor. Why would she say something like that? I wanted to be an ambulance driver… so I could drive fast!
Christ made himself very real to me this past February. While on a “Wild at Heart Boot Camp” in Buena Vista, Colorado, I had it placed on my heart to prepare my household for He was calling me to ministry. Amy and I have been obedient in our preparations and have many more to attend to and I have just now come to this crossroad in acceptance, in peace of the path we should take. However, He has warned me that I have some rough edges that need polishing. He also promised healing from my brokenness.
When it came to deciding where to apply to seminary, I felt the choice had already been made on my behalf. Oh sure, I looked at schools in the Colorado Springs area because that is where I would like to live or someday work. However, God being who He is, has prompted me to apply to Asbury and in doing so was required to complete this narrative. The first topic asks to address my compatibility with the Seminary’s Statements of Faith, Ethos and Educational Mission. Not that I doubted, but God has chosen wisely. He has chosen a platform from which I can build a solid foundation on principles and beliefs that I hold as truth.
I was not familiar with the term “Ethos.” I realize that I may not know the term, but I can see that it is all too often missing among Christ’s disciples. As one who is pursuing God’s heart, not as a prospective pastor or professional minister, I must choose to follow His instructions provided to us in the scriptures. My name, Mark, I have been told means “warrior.” I am proud of this name and its forgotten meaning. When I think of edifying or lifting up our brothers and sisters in discipleship, I think of the Marines’ motto, “Never leave a man behind.” We must not give up on our fallen comrades. As followers of Christ, we must band together to survive and conquer evil amongst us.
As I read through the Educational Mission of Asbury, the phrase “a Spirit-filled life” jumped off the page. I have functioned in the natural far too long. My personal pursuit of God has led me to exploring what it truly means to live a Spirit-filled life. I feel God has laid it upon my heart to work towards becoming fluent in the spiritual realm. I do not pretend to understand what He is asking of me, but am excited that I will have the opportunity to grow and further explore this prompting under the careful watch of people that God has chosen to support me as I grow in His ministry.
Concerning the Statement of Faith and being raised in the Methodist tradition, I read through the information as reading a checklist. Amen, Yep, That’s right… These are the foundational truths that were fostered into my belief system in my impressionable years as a Disciple of Christ. One would be hard pressed to get me to confess to the contrary of these statements.
Before I reached this crossroad, I could see it lying ahead in the distance. In order to prepare for the decision lying before me, I attempted to prepare myself by “trying on” different aspects of ministry. About a year and a half ago, Pastor Bergman decided to step down from teaching our adult Sunday school class to focus on other areas he felt led to pursue. I had no desire to “teach” this class and my family was still new to the congregation so I had my reservations. After receiving some direction from my pastor and support from my wife, I thought I would try my hand at facilitating this adult class. Since then, I have found it to be tremendously rewarding. On the rare occasion I am not available to facilitate class, I find myself missing it. Also since February, I have been asked to lead worship and provide the message in my pastor’s absence on two separate occasions. Each message provided two very different lessons in developing a comfort with proclaiming God’s message to others. Currently God has been having me focus on my prayer life and asking me to pray confidently over others. I look forward to continuing this quest in seminary.
I am still working towards an understanding of Christian ministry. I believe it takes on many forms. I feel that most opportunities are subtle in nature and sadly missed due to the subtlety. On the other hand, a few are called to more overt expressions of Christ’s ministry. These expressions are more familiar as preacher, missionaries even teachers of God’s Word. Simply put, I believe what is stated in the Asbury’s Ethos statement is a huge part of ministry. We need to commit ourselves to purity and service to others as Disciples of Christ. Ministry is simply a leadership position in following Christ’s example. Jesus was a “Servant Leader” and ministry is any opportunity to express his example to others so others may know Him.
I am now taking steps from this crossroad in life towards the path that God has placed before my family. Amy and I look forward with anticipation for what God has in store for us as we take this journey together.
