Getting Out of the Boat

Introduction Have you ever wondered how people knew they were called into ministry? Matthew 28:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV) “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” That may seem strange for someone that has never been introduced to ministry work and may leave a lot of questions unanswered. I remember when I entered the ministry several years ago it was an exciting and scary time. I did not know what to expect, who to turn to, or even how to go about the process. All I felt was a tug to do it. A tug can be confusing if you have never felt an emotional tug on your spirit before. It’s like an intuition or a strong urge, and whether you’re supposed to act upon it may depend on how strong the urge is felt. Throughout this book I will make every effort to share the variety of thoughts, feelings and responses I have experienced and, to the best that I am able, attempt to describe what led up to what I believe created that tug within me to enter ministry. In ministry often we refer to this experience as a testimony, transformation, or getting saved (accepting the Lord as your Savior, or becoming born again, in my case). There is a growth process that takes place when one is “saved”. My belief is that once you become saved, you are in ministry; otherwise a complete transformation may not have blossomed yet.