Assignment to Calling
Summer of 2007 would become Fall of 2007. In Fall of 2007 my Monday’s would become dedicated to teaching an Intro to Computers course at Christian Life College and being a student in a Spiritual Leadership course.
Over the course of the semester I would learn things as a student and a teacher.
First is the teaching dynamic. Most of the students are there to become ministers or missionaries of one form or another. I could not help but be impressed with the caliber of their character, the optimism of youth, and the wisdom of the older adult learners. Some of this has come from them and other aspects are reflections of the quality of the education they are receiving. I would feel called to be a part of their lives beyond the classroom. As I learned a bit of each individual I would see them as part of my life and their hopes and dreams and fears and failings would be a part of my life.
Now, as to the student. I had President Harry Schmidt as my instructor. I had him as my teacher for two or three classes when I was a younger man and I had not realized what an amazing orator he was. Every word was like a feast of concepts and wisdom. I learned so much more than I could have ever thought possible.
We had a final presentation we had to do as opposed to a final exam. The presentation had to be a leadership model for a Christian Ministry either real or imagined. Where I saw some students taking on grandiose projects, I wanted to do a simple church in my hometown. Over the course of the semester I would work on this project. First it was casual dabbling…then, something started to grow inside me. I found myself praying over this project and taking to heart. I began to realize I was drawing the first draft to a church that was not an assignment, but a reality. I found my heart changing and softening to the ministry once again. I began to realize that in my life, nothing I have done vocationally has satisfied the way touching people’s lives did. This was no longer how to lead, this was how to serve. How to serve God, my community, and the lives of people who are hurting.
When I gave my presentation, it was emotional. The man who has spoken in front of thousands and at national conventions trembled with humility in a room full of 12. I laid it all out there for them. The heart for the single mom, the hurt, the wounded, the lonely, the restoration plan, the bridge building. In later entries we will go into more detail of the bricks and mortar of the church, but this is where it begins.
Students were awestruck with the heart. One has even said she wants to take part in it as an intern..and possibly more. Pastor Harry would be very complimentary and genuine to it.
The students and the teacher were the very first step of confirming that this is real and this is where God wanted me to be. More steps would follow and with each step there is further confirmation.
Let me make one thing clear about this calling. It is not a cloud parting burning bush sort of thing. This is a quiet whisper through confirming desires with validations and opening doors.
My path to CLC was unique and not something I could have scripted. It was 16 years in the making. The timing of my humbling and stripping down through the heart attack shortly before returning could not have been scripted. The road to Lockport leading me to a teen outreach called open door coffeehouse and Sharon and so many others there would put me back into ministry as a servant and not a leader (to be discussed more later) was amazing. The rebuilding of my friendship with a Pastor named Fran and the door that opened there to make this idea a reality is one I could not have planned. As we swiftly catch up on the history, each chapter will be another door, this was merely one of the first.
