Are You Sure You’ve Been Called?
When you know God has called you to start a church, you will be able to face those first difficult years with confidence and grace. While there will be periods of trial and uncertainty, knowing you have been called to the work you are doing will keep you moving forward. Look at some ways you can recognize a proper calling:
Proper Sources of Calling
- Prayer and Bible study. God calls and confirms His call through prayer and Bible study. When God calls people, He often confirms His calling every time they pray or read the Bible.
- Surprise. Ministry may have never entered into your own plans when God intercepts your plans. Someone said, “When God is stirring in my life, everything familiar gets uncomfortable.” This surprise calling leads to a 180-degree turn in career and focus.
- Holy discontent. While anger, resentment, or discontent toward an existing church or pastor can be a source of improper calling, a proper calling will often carry with it a sense of holy discontent. This discontent does not focus on problems within a ministry, but has a heart to improve the situation in a particular community. Holy discontent also comes when you have ignored God’s call in your life, and you realize you will not find fulfillment until you surrender to His will to start a church.
- Burden for the unchurched. A desire to reach the unchurched always accompanies a proper call. If your goal is to change the Christians in your community, most assuredly God has not called you to start a new church. However, if you have a strong passion to reach the unchurched, you may be hearing from God.
- Godly counsel. A proper call will be accompanied by the confirmation of those around you. Seek other leaders and gauge their response to your call.
Nelson Searcy, Manhattan, New York
