Before the Call

I was still a student in High school trying to decide on a career, though I think I was heading to be a teacher.

 

I had been an Interrogator in the Army and, in the years immediately before seminary, a technical writer. My plan had been to get a Ph.D. in English and teach (there were already enough lawyers in my family).

Joshua

 

Supervisor of Nuclear Engineering and Operations at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, San Clemente, CA.

I took my JD at age 50, just to keep my brain from turning to mush. (It didn't work!)

 

High School Iwas gonna be a teacher tried and am now going to attend a seminary

 

Carpentry, the true noble profession of Baptist preachers!!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I, like a lot of pastors-theologians, was on my way to law school to prepare to be part of that noble profession<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>BTW, Tom, did you hear the one about the man who happened upon a lawyer's grave in the cemetery?? He noticed a monument and its engraving - "A lawyer and a good man". He pondered the statement a moment and said, "Hmp, guess they buried two people in that grave."

 

Decided in high school to enter the ministry. Attended Bible Seminary, dropped out, went into broadcasting (radio & TV), went into politics (ran for office and worked under the table doing dirty tricks), went into show promoting & fundraising & doing Get Rich Seminars, back into broadcasting and now God "PUT" me back into the ministry (YES, HE PUT ME HERE). During much of this time, I owned my own business as well.

Strange as it would seem to a non-christian, Parts of all the above talents are now being used by me, doing God's work. While I asked God to use me, I did not know to what extent.

There's an old saying, when you ask God for somehting, "Be Specific"; as he just may give you what you asked for (in the general non-specific asking). Boy did He give me my asking. I think He has a sense of humor, when it comes to such givings. You asked.... I'll give!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: Pastor_Don_Kirk ]

 

I am not a pastor yet, but I hope and pray daily that God would provide me the opportunity. Right now I'm a studying for my Masters degree in electrical engineering.

 

I'm not a pastor, nor am I even to keen on people suddenly feeling "called" and then using that feeling as a credential to get into the ministry. That is to say, I'm wary of the "calling" concept as we know it because there are too many preacherboys who were called by their church or their mom. There are even many who I fear mistake a desire to have authority over people and be seen as important as being a "calling". It's a claim anyone can make.

But having said that, about six years ago, I came to the unavoidable realization that God had given me certain gifts that I absolutely must exercise for him. Not sure that's in the pastorate, or that I even like what we consider the pastorate to be today. Still, I guess you could call it a calling.

I guess I felt I needed to qualify that in order to be honest about what I consider my"calling".


Now to answer the question, I was studying economics and finance. I wanted either to be a financial advisor or an econometrician.

 

I surrendered to preach about three months after my salvation experience. I was career Navy. I spent about 18 1/2 years active duty then at God's direction left and went into bi-vo staff work at a nearby church. That lasted about nine months; God had His way and I have pastored ever since.

 

Was Army bound. Hoped for Special Forces. Got BA in History and Spanish. After it all changed, the Lord still uses past education/experiences for his glory.

 

I was an industrial electrician for eight years making $20 an hour when God called me into the ministry. I had just completed a $125,000 house on my parents place where I had always wanted to live. Now I'm the pastor of a little church in the backwoods of Mississippi living in a small house somebody else owns and I couldn't be happier!!! Thank you Lord for your calling on my life.

[ March 01, 2002, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: brorobw ]

 

A quick question....Okay,I'm confused!
I thought saggywoman and tatortot(I read profile...mother,etc) were women.....Am I wrong or are you pastor's wives? Why did you answer this question to pastors? No offense,just wondering who everyone is.

 

There are women who are baptist pastors, but I don't think any of them post here.

Joshua

 

Greetings!
I am currently a bi-vocational pastor of a small country Church of 50. My wife and I are both also in the travel industry (internet travel support) and have been for 18 years. I am serving as a GM for one of our companies locations. It's amazing how God will use us in the workplace in ways that we never imagined. This coming Easter I will begin serving a different and much larger congregation (250)on a bi-vocational basis. Asking you all for prayers for my family and I as we "together" begin this new ministry.
God Bless
BTW- Just signed up on the board tonight - very interesting topics!

 

Construction work in Baton Rouge, LA. Time to time I look back--after all the years of college/seminary(NOBTS & Luther Rice) and I think--I can be just about anything I want to be. But I don't want to be nor do anything else but preach! Have a good one!