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Andrew C. Thompson

Category Archives: Arkansas Conference

John Wesley and the Power of Christian Doctrine

27 Thursday Apr 2017

Posted by Andrew C. Thompson in Arkansas Conference, Doctrine & Theology, John Wesley, Justification, Salvation, Sanctification/Holiness, United Methodist Church, Wesleyan Theology

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John Wesley was passionate about doctrine. In fact, his love of doctrine is one of the more underappreciated (and sometimes even unknown) parts of his leadership of the Methodist movement.

Wesley was such a believer in the importance of doctrine that it was—ironically—one of the things that caused him to get in trouble with his own Church of England. We see an example of that in a sermon from 1789 called “Prophets and Priests.” In answering critics who claimed that his actions amounted to separation from the church, Wesley responded: “I hold all the doctrines of the Church of England. I love her Liturgy. I approve her plan of discipline, and only wish it could be put in execution.”

His appreciation for the way that the church’s doctrine and discipline were laid out on paper led Wesley to want to see them truly put into action. In fact, he believed that’s what the Methodist movement was attempting to do. When people would criticize him for planning Methodist services in the city of Dublin at the same time as regular church services, one of the reasons Wesley gave for why he did such a thing was to ensure that the people would have a chance to hear “that sound doctrine which is able to save their souls.”

Nowadays there are all kinds of misconceptions about the nature of the message that Wesley preached and wrote about. Sometimes he is depicted as an excitable evangelist that just wanted to get people pumped up about their faith. Other times you’ll hear people make comments like, “I just really appreciate Wesley’s message about grace.”

Both of these points of view miss the fact that there was actually a lot of concrete content to what Wesley was trying to get across. It wasn’t just about being energetic for Jesus (though that is certainly a good thing!). And it wasn’t just a generalized message about grace or love. Wesley’s understanding of the Christian gospel had fundamental doctrinal content—and he believed that content was of paramount importance for people to hear.

When pressed to summarize the Christian doctrine he thought most central to the Bible, Wesley typically spoke in terms of a three-part scheme: the doctrine of sin and the need for repentance; the doctrine of justification by faith and new birth; and the doctrine of sanctification or holiness. He imagines these three doctrinal heads as the porch, door and house of religion in a famous example from the Principles of a Methodist Farther Explained in 1746.

Wesley writes, “Our main doctrines… are three, that of repentance, of faith, and of holiness. The first of these we account, as it were, the porch of religion; the next, the door; the third is religion itself.”

Wesley’s intense commitment to core Christian doctrine can be explained by the fact that he really believed people’s salvation was at stake in what was being preached by Methodist preachers. The pulpit was not a place to go off into flights of theological fancy, nor was it the proper arena for the preacher to test out his own pet theories about the Bible. It was a place solely meant for the preaching of the meat-and-potatoes gospel of Jesus Christ.

One of the last retrospective essays Wesley wrote about the Methodist movement was a short 1786 piece called “Thoughts upon Methodism.” It is there that he shared his thoughts about the prospects for the Methodist movement in the years to come. And since Wesley was not a man to mince words, he stated exactly what he thought the dangers were to the revival that he had led, by that point, for over 45 years.

He writes, “I am not afraid that the people called Methodists should ever cease to exist either in Europe or America. But I am afraid lest they should only exist as a dead sect, having the form of religion without the power. And this undoubtedly will be the case unless they hold fast both the doctrine, spirit, and discipline with which they first set out.”

Our present age is one in which all three of those points Wesley makes are being tested in the extreme—doctrine, spirit and discipline. The Methodist movement may go one of any number of directions in the years to come. If it is to go in a Wesleyan direction, the Methodists themselves must surely take heed of Wesley’s advice and embrace the biblical doctrine that Wesley himself embraced in the movement’s first flourishing.

This essay also appeared in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper’s April 7, 2017 edition. You can read it in the online version of the AUM newspaper here.

Moving from Revival to Discipleship

14 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by Andrew C. Thompson in Arkansas Conference, Discipleship, Practical Theology

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From Revival to Discipleship“Spiritual revival is never an end in itself. It is, however, essential for deep discipleship becoming a reality.”

Bishop Gary Mueller spoke those words as a part of his Episcopal Address at our recent Annual Conference session in Hot Springs. It was one of the main points that he shared as a part of his reflection on the relationship between revival and discipleship.

Understanding that relationship is critical for us if we want the fruits that come from spiritual revival to prove lasting in their effects.

Focusing on spiritual revival as an end in itself would be a big mistake for us. The word “revival” itself means new life. To be spiritually revived means to be given new life by the Holy Spirit. And when the Spirit gives life, it is always for some good purpose.

The good purpose for which the Spirit gives life is, of course, the purpose of following Jesus! It is discipleship. So when we find ourselves given the gift of spiritual renewal, we should always be asking how that renewal can lead us to grow in our discipleship to Christ.

One other aspect of the bishop’s message shouldn’t be lost on us: his strong conviction that revival is the fuel that brings discipleship to fruition. Trying to live the life of discipleship without the renewing presence of the Holy Spirit would be like trying to bake a loaf of bread with no yeast in the dough. The grace that the Spirit gives us serves as the ongoing power for the Christian life in every respect.

Revival and discipleship in the Gospel of John

The Gospel of John gives us a wonderful image to help us understand the spiritual rhythm of revival leading to discipleship. When the resurrected Jesus appears to disciples in the locked room on Easter day, he says, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). Immediately thereafter, Jesus breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

This scene in the Gospel of John is a perfect image for this year’s Annual Conference theme: “From Revival Flows Discipleship.” Jesus gives revival to the disciples by breathing out the Holy Spirit upon them. He restores them from the fear and failure that they experienced prior to Easter morning. By giving them the Spirit, he gives them new life.

In the midst of his gift of revival, Jesus also shares words with the disciples that point them to the purpose their revival should serve. The Father sent Jesus, and now Jesus sends them. He sends them into the world to witness to the salvation Jesus brings through their own faithful discipleship.

Discipleship in the Wesleyan class meeting

So what is our next step if we want the revival that God is offering to us to move us into a deeper discipleship in our own lives?

One of the highlights of our Annual Conference session was a resolution passed on Tuesday afternoon. Its stated purpose: “Encourage the Formation of Accountable Discipleship Groups in the Local Church.”

The text of the resolution affirms our Wesleyan tradition of small-group discipleship formation. It then encourages local congregations to form small groups for women and men based on the early Methodist class meeting.

The class meeting was the most widely used small group in the early Methodist movement. Originally it was a group of 10 to 12 people led by a class leader. Its chief activities were faith sharing and prayer, and the question that the leader asked each class member during the weekly meeting was, “How is it with your soul?” Class members had the opportunity to share their joys and their challenges with one another. They prayed together. The purpose of the gathering was, in Wesley’s own words, “to watch over one another in love.”

Small groups based on the class meeting model are exactly what we need for revival to flow into the discipleship in the Arkansas Conference today. It is through the faith formation that happens in Wesleyan small groups that discipleship is given the rich soil in which to take root and grow.

There are aspects of discipleship that need to be carried out beyond the prayer and conversation of small groups, of course. There is evangelism and mission, worship and study, education and pastoral care. Yet if small groups are done correctly—on the authentic Wesleyan model—they provide a foundation of faith formation that can serve as a springboard for all these other elements of discipleship.

Sometimes the work that we do debating and voting on resolutions during the Annual Conference session is much ado about nothing. Resolutions typically don’t require concrete action by the Conference. They are statements of the Conference’s opinion on this or that matter. But I believe the resolution passed in Hot Springs encouraging all local churches in Arkansas to embrace the class meeting model in a contemporary context is something much more.

If we want to be faithful to the Savior who gives us the reviving gift of the Holy Spirit, then we will heed his call to be sent out into the world to live as his disciples. And the foundation of that life of discipleship will be found in small groups committed to engaging in the serious work of faith formation. The Conference has endorsed such a path. Now let’s follow it.

________________________________

This essay also appeared in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper’s July 8, 2016 edition. You can read it in the online version of the AUM newspaper at this link.

Means of Grace notice in the Ark. United Methodist

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, Means of Grace, Practical Theology, Seedbed

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The Arkansas United Methodist newspaper very thoughtfully posted a notice about my new book, The Means of Grace in its October 2015 issue. I have been serving as a regular columnist for the AUM since 2011, where my Practical Divinity column appears quarterly.

For those of you in the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church, check out the Arkansas United Methodist if you don’t already have a subscription here. There’s no better way to keep abreast of the ministry and mission of our annual conference!


 

Many miles from there to here

22 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, Blog Housekeeping, Local Church Ministry

≈ 3 Comments

20150504_091311It’s been about 3 1/2 months since I last posted here. I think that means it’s time to get back in the saddle.

The main reason for my blog lying fallow for so long is related to a major change that has happened recently in my family’s life: I was appointed by my bishop to be the senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Springdale, Arkansas.

That appointment began in July, so much of May and June were devoted to finishing up my work at Memphis Theological Seminary and preparing for our move. Since the beginning of July, I’ve been learning the ropes here at First Church. So my plate has been full!

Like all major moves in life, this one has taken a great deal of focus and energy. We had to say some difficult goodbyes to friends in Marion (where we were living) and at MTS (where I was teaching). Yet we also had the good fortune to say many wonderful hellos to new friends and colleagues here in Springdale.

I’m back in full-time pastoral ministry, and I’m taking to it like a duck to water. Our new church is tremendous. I have a dedicated staff working with me that is talented and faithful. The congregation is hungry for ministry and mission. And my family and I already love Northwest Arkansas after just a few weeks — both the cities in this region and the Ozark Mountains are fantastic.

My plan is to start posting frequently again, and there is actually a lot of news to share this fall. I don’t want to do that all in one post. So I’ll space it out over the next few weeks. If you are still a subscriber or still stopping by every once in a while, thanks for hanging in there with me. I also hope to do an overhaul to the website soon — both in terms of content and design.

So there is plenty more to come. Stay tuned.

 

A New Chapter: Springdale FUMC

22 Sunday Mar 2015

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, FUMC Springdale, Local Church Ministry, United Methodist Church

≈ 3 Comments

My family and I have some exciting news to share. Several days ago, my bishop called me to say that he was appointing me as the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Springdale, Arkansas. First Church in Springdale is a vibrant congregation whose witness is shown in worship, discipleship formation, and community outreach. In fact, after hearing about the church from the bishop, district superintendent, and the S/PR committee chairman, I was amazed at the sheer number of exciting things going on there!

This new appointment means that I will have to say goodbye to the wonderful community at Memphis Theological Seminary, where I have taught for the past four years and served as the director of the Methodist House of Studies. Emily and I, and our kids, will also be leaving our friends at Marion United Methodist Church, whom we love dearly and who have embraced us with care and support over these past few years. We have made the town of Marion our home during the time I’ve served on the faculty of MTS, and we have found it to be a great place to live. Taking our leave of it will be difficult because of the people whose lives we have shared here.

We also know that there’s another community — nestled up in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas — that is filled with wonderful people as well. The city of Springdale will be a great place to call home, and Springdale First Church represents a wonderful opportunity for ministry. We’ve got a few months before we will pack our bags and begin this new chapter in our lives, but that just means that we’ve got time for the excitement and anticipation to build. I’ve already received calls and emails from congregation members and church staff from Springdale, which is a testament to the kindness and hospitality of the folks there. We can’t wait to meet them in person!

Springdale First Church logoNote: Photo credit on the featured image above goes to Shiloh Sacred Harp Singers of NW Arkansas. See their homepage here.

Angels: God's messengers, Our guardians

22 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by admin in Angels, Arkansas Conference, John Wesley, Liturgical Year, United Methodist Church

≈ 2 Comments

Cosimo_Fancelli-Angel_bearing_Veronica’s_Veil-Ponte_Sant_AngeloWe’re in a season of angels.

It all began with Advent. One of Advent’s most beloved Scripture passages is the angel Gabriel’s visit to the Virgin Mary. Joseph had his own angelic encounter, of course. An angel visited him to assure him that Mary’s child was from the Holy Spirit.

So it was through angels that news of Jesus Christ’s coming into the world was first revealed.

Then after Advent, on the holy day of Christmas itself, angels were everywhere around the birth of Jesus. An entire host of them visited the shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem. They sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace amongst those whom he favors!” (Luke 2:14).

Around the time of the Epiphany, an angel shows up again. Joseph is visited by an angel in a dream. The angel warns him to take Mary and the baby Jesus to Egypt following the visit of the Wise Men.
We don’t talk that much about angels these days. Perhaps we should.

In the Bible, the presence of angels in our world is a given. Angels are God’s messengers. Hebrews 1:14 speaks of angels as “spirits in the divine service” that are “sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.”

Hope for spiritual revival
One of the chief hopes of Bishop Gary Mueller is that the United Methodist Church in Arkansas would experience a great spiritual revival. I share that hope as well. I also believe that one thing that needs to be in place in order for spiritual revival to happen is a deep awareness on our part that we live in a profoundly spiritual world.

A feature of modern life very damaging to Christian spirituality is the tendency we have to artificially segment our lives into different parts. We think spiritual things when we go to church. When we’re out in the world, we are much more likely to act as if the material world is all that exists. Our faith can become something like a hat we wear when we are expected to act in Christian ways. Otherwise, we’re happy doing our own thing. How might we think about ourselves and our world differently?
A mentor who has had a great impact on me is Richard P. Heitzenrater, one of the leading historians of John Wesley and early Methodism. I once heard Dr. Heitzenrater describe what it was about Wesley that he found so fascinating.

Here’s what he said: Among all historical figures he has ever come across, John Wesley had a greater sense of God’s abiding presence in the world than anyone else. Wesley was keenly aware that he was living in a Spirit-drenched world and that God was literally everywhere. He didn’t just know this in his mind, of course. Wesley felt it deeply in his soul, and it directed everything about how he lived his life.

That Wesleyan awareness of the world as a Spirit-drenched place is exactly what we need in order to be prepared for the Spirit’s work of revival among us.

Angels in our midst
Angels are spiritual beings, of course, so it should not surprise us that Wesley was deeply interested in them. His interest began at a young age. One of the very first sermons that we have from his hand was written in 1726. Its title: “On Guardian Angels.”

In the sermon he cites Psalm 91, which reads, “For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways” (verse 11). Wesley sees this biblical promise as meant by God for all faithful Christians—evidence of the “peculiar care he hath taken for their protection.”

In a later sermon, “Of Good Angels,” Wesley gets very specific about the ways that he believes angels minister to human beings. He says that they surely enlighten our understanding and warn us subtly against danger. Wesley believes that angels also come to us in our dreams and reveal things to us that we need to know. He even believes that they intercede in the physical world to protect us from harm and to heal diseases. Because he sees the world we live in as so deeply spiritual, Wesley even thinks that good angels regularly do battle against evil angels that would seek to harm us.

These views might make a modern Methodist blush. Should we put stock in such things that seem so unsophisticated or unscientific?

That all depends on how seriously you take the biblical worldview of how God interacts with the world. Does God use angels for divine purposes? Wesley had no doubts, and I think there is a great deal to learn from that.

I yearn for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church. Lately, I’ve been wondering if there are angels beckoning us to prepare for that. If you wonder the same thing, you might from time to time pray this prayer that was important to Wesley himself:

“Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always serve and worship you in heaven, so by your appointment they may help and defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen” (Collect for Saint Michael and all Angels, Book of Common Prayer).

________________________________

This article originally appeared in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper’s January 2, 2015 edition. Reprinted with permission. You can read the article in its original form at this link.

A Shepherd's Message

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by admin in Advent, Arkansas Conference, Bible, Pastoral Care, United Methodist Church

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There are many bishops, with many different gifts. I’ve always thought that the greatest gift a bishop can have is to be a true pastor to the pastors under his charge. Here is a remarkable example of that virtue in the person of my bishop in the Arkansas Conference, Bishop Gary Mueller:

The Apostle Peter teaches the presbyters of the church that they are to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you.” He also says that the church’s leaders are not to do this for personal gain or through an appetite for power. Rather, they are to be “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3).

In this season of Advent when we have so much for which to be thankful, I am thankful for a bishop with a pastor’s heart—who has a deep and abiding love for his pastors which flows from his deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ.

 

Methodist House: Words of Wisdom

20 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, Memphis Theological Seminary, Methodist House

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This past week Methodist students at Memphis Theological Seminary met with the Rev. Mark Norman. Over pizza and soft drinks, Rev. Norman shared some words of wisdom on the topic, “Things I wish someone had told me when I was in seminary.”

Rev. Norman serves as the district superintendent of the Southeast District in the Arkansas Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Because there are a lot of Methodist students on campus both Tuesdays and Wednesdays this semester, Rev. Norman was generous enough to visit with students on both days. The lunchtime gatherings were hosted by the Methodist House of Studies at MTS as a part of its ongoing luncheon series designed to promote fellowship amongst Methodist students at MTS while also equipping them for practical ministry.

During the lunch conversations, Rev. Norman shared these thoughts:2014-10-15_MHOS Mtg 4

  • Your devotional life is deeply important. You can never get too advanced for basic prayer and daily devotional reading of Scripture. Commitment to ongoing spiritual formation is essential, especially during the crowded time of a seminary experience.
  • Seminary is about preparation for real ministry. As students, the academic context can cause us to struggle at times to relate what we are doing to actual ministry. So we should always remind ourselves that the seminary is a place to be formed as pastors. Our calling is to love our people, like a shepherd loves the sheep. When we remember that foundational truth, we will go a long way in preserving the deeply spiritual component of both seminary (and pastoral ministry itself, for those students who are already serving as pastors). But it takes work!
  • Preparation for the practical side of ministry can be very helpful. If your seminary offers courses in business administration, financial leadership, or grant writing & fundraising, you should think hard about taking advantage of them. These sound like secular topics, but they are a part of every local church. And they can be embraced in very theological ways. [When Rev. Norman mentioned this topic, I thought immediately of the new Financial Leadership for Ministry program at MTS.]

2014-10-15_MHOS Mtg 3

  • The hunger for theology will never go away. In fact, it will only grow stronger the longer you are away from seminary. Reading and meditating on theology can truly feed the soul of a pastor. So don’t throw those seminary books away—and plan on making the time to keep engaging thinkers and ideas as you move fully into pastoral ministry.

A lively conversation followed Rev. Norman’s talk on both the Tuesday and Wednesday gatherings. The lunchtime fellowship captured the best of what the Methodist House of Studies seeks to promote, which is the integration of theological conversation with a concern for practical ministry and the life of the church.

 


 

Care for Children: A Wesleyan Calling

10 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, Evangelism & Mission, John Wesley, Local Church Ministry, United Methodist Church

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The ministry of early Methodists impacted the lives of men and women in remarkable ways. Under John Wesley’s leadership, the Methodist revival in the British Isles emphasized a gospel that included concerns for both body and soul.

The Methodist preaching of the time called for a renewal of the heart through faith in Jesus Christ. But it also taught that those whose hearts had been renewed would be changed in their outward lives. So for people of that time, it was only natural that powerful preaching services and prayer gatherings would go hand in hand with social outreach to feed the hungry, heal the sick and educate the unlettered.

One part of the early Methodist movement that often gets overlooked is the Methodists’ deep concern for the welfare of children. When John Wesley and other young men met to organize their spiritual lives in the way that would eventually be called “Methodist,” their Irish friend William Morgan led them in gathering together a group of poor children for instruction. The project was so successful that they eventually had to hire a local woman in Oxford to take on the role of schoolteacher.

The commitment to the wellbeing of children would become a hallmark of the Methodist movement when it began to expand in 1739—a point made by Richard Heitzenrater in his excellent book, Wesley and the People Called Methodists. One of the first major projects that John Wesley undertook after he committed to field preaching was the Kingswood School near Bristol, England, which was founded to provide education and Christian instruction for the poor children of the area.

Wesley also gathered the children in the places where Methodism spread so that they could form “little societies” similar to the societies intended for grown-ups. One of the questions Wesley began asking new Methodist preachers in 1766 reads, “Will you diligently and earnestly instruct the children, and visit from house to house?”

Wesley at times admitted that he found ministry with children to be difficult, but he never let that stand in the way of pursuing it at every opportunity.

Ministry with children in Arkansas

Many of our local churches in the Arkansas Conference see ministry with children as one of their primary activities. I think it’s encouraging to recognize how deeply embedded that commitment is in the Methodist DNA.

Wesley himself defined Methodism first and foremost as the “religion of the Bible.” And in that sense, it’s also true that the Methodist devotion to ministry with children is an outgrowth of Jesus’ own teaching: “Let the little children come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).

Arkansas state flagThis past June our annual conference approved a Childhood Hunger Initiative that will seek to address food insecurity among children across the state of Arkansas. The hope is that every local church in Arkansas will participate in some way to help end childhood hunger across the state.

There is already good work being done on that front through various agencies, of course, and it is important to publicize and support it. Our local churches represent a huge resource to start new projects addressing children’s hunger in their own contexts, as well. So congregations ought to think creatively about what they can do to spread the gospel by caring for hungry children.

‘With utmost care’

We’ll be hearing more about this new initiative in the weeks ahead. As we prepare in prayerful and practical ways to commit ourselves to this good work, drawing on some Wesleyan wisdom might be helpful.

Wesley once referred to children in a sermon as “immortal spirits whom God hath for a time entrusted to your care, that you may train them up in all holiness, and fit them for the enjoyment of God in eternity.”

He believed children were gifts of God, as we all do. His point here is not just about the value of children, though. It is about the profound responsibility of Christian adults to guard them, protect them, provide for them and raise them as followers of Christ.

That’s an issue of faithful stewardship—care for the little boys and girls God has placed in our midst. So I think Wesley’s pastoral advice serves as a fitting word for us to consider as we embark together on a great missional ministry:

“Every child therefore you are to watch over with the utmost care, that when you are called to give an account of each to the Father of Spirits, you may give your accounts with joy and not with grief.”

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This article originally appeared in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper’s October 3, 2014 edition. Reprinted with permission. You can read the article in its original form at this link.

 


 

We need a 'culture of call' in the church

10 Thursday Jul 2014

Posted by admin in Arkansas Conference, Evangelism & Mission, Leadership, United Methodist Church

≈ 2 Comments

Our recent annual conference in Rogers, AR, featured a persistent theme that needs to be transmitted to every congregation in Arkansas.

The call. Specifically, God’s call upon the lives of women and men into ministry.

We’re all called, of course. Every one of us. Every baptized Christian is meant to be a minister of the gospel in one way or another.

I’m mostly interested in talking about the call into ordained ministry here, though.

That was the theme I kept hearing in Rogers.

Bishop Gary Mueller emphasized it many times. It was there in the great preaching we experienced. The Rev. Adam Hamilton spoke at length about its prominence in the way his church teaches confirmation. And it popped up in video after video of our retiring clergy.

Each time, the speaker in question would comment about how important it is to recognize the call—either in yourself or in someone you know. Oftentimes a call into ministry is persistent-yet-subtle. The right kind of environment is needed so the person called can really sense what is happening. Mentors and friends are crucial in helping those who are called to discern the nature of their calling.

Opening worship service at the 2014 Arkansas Annual Conference in Rogers, AR

Opening worship service at the 2014 Arkansas Annual Conference in Rogers, AR

I don’t think the frequency of people speaking about the importance of the call into ministry at our annual conference was any accident. I believe there is a Spirit-led energy in the church in Arkansas to focus on this work. For revival to happen, raising up the best leadership will be essential.

We need strong clergy leadership for the church to thrive in any age.

The Apostle Paul teaches us that “the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him.”

Yet in order for anybody to call on Christ Jesus, we have to know him first. So Paul goes on: “But how are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14, RSV).

The church must have preachers to proclaim the word of God, priests to celebrate the sacraments, and pastors to care for God’s flock. For those people to get where they need to be, they’ve got to hear God’s call and respond to it.

The Rev. Cornelia DeLee gave a humorous slant on God’s call when she shared her own attempts to avoid it during her retirement video: “You can run like Jonah,” she said. “But eventually you’re gonna come out dripping and puking seaweed to preach a 7-word sermon.”

Better not to run at all, of course! (If only it were that simple.)

Actually, Jonah’s story is a pretty good window into how difficult responding to a call from God can be. Because God’s call often interrupts our lives—and sometimes directs us to go places we’d never have dreamed about otherwise—it can be intimidating to say the least.

So many of those called in the Bible didn’t think they had the stuff to serve. Many of them saw themselves as people “with unclean lips,” in the words of the prophet Isaiah.

Sometimes it isn’t that responding to the call is the most difficult part. It may be hearing the call in the first place that is the challenge. This was my story, in some ways. I had many people urging me toward ministry from an early age. They saw what I could not. I also received some direct signs from the Holy Spirit, but for a long time I misinterpreted or just plain disregarded them.

The difficulty in hearing or responding to God’s call (or sometimes, both!) means that young men and women need a church around them that can support and nurture them. The right type of youth ministry is crucial. But youth group alone is not enough. The church has got to be invested in youth at every level.

Of course, some people get called at a later point in their lives. So the culture of call in the church needs to be present everywhere: in worship, in small groups, even in church administration.

We also have to do what people in our day sometimes tend to shy away from: direct engagement and prompting. If you know someone in your congregation that you believe is called into ministry—whether it’s a youth or someone older—you should start praying for that person daily. Then you should start figuring out a way to engage that person in conversation to let him or her know what you’ve seen.

Think about it: The Holy Spirit could be trying to use you to convey Jesus’ deep desire to bring another servant of the gospel into ministry. If you suspect that may be the case, then don’t delay.

The Spirit and the church are counting on you.

_____________________________

This article originally appeared in the Arkansas United Methodist newspaper’s July 4, 2014 edition. Reprinted with permission. You can read the article in its original form at this link.

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