There are all kinds of people serving in student ministry. Some moms and dads love their teenagers and simply want to help them and the other students at church grow in their relationships with God. Some young people have been blessed by caring adults and simply want to pour into the lives of other students. Some have been roped into working with students because no one else will do it. And finally, some feel called to ministry. Whether you are volunteering or working vocationally in ministry, the work remains much the same. We develop relationships. We teach biblical truths. We go to events and games. We do the work. However, it is important to confirm your calling to serve for a lifetime of ministry. Knowing that God is the driving force of your work can bring comfort and hope when it is hard and difficult.
Those who work with students may be in student ministry for a season or for a lifetime. However, sometimes only a strong calling sustains us when one of our students loses a parent or another becomes pregnant. We encounter various challenging situations as student ministry workers. Simple resolve can help us tackle many issues. Nevertheless, there are moments when only a calling can see us through. Therefore, it is essential to affirm your calling.
If you find yourself questioning what is going on in your life and if God has really led you to this place of service, here are a few things to do:
• Revisit your relationship with God. Sometimes, we can be so caught up in the doing of ministry that we may not have ever taken the first steps of faith. Over the years, I have had so many students question their faith because they made a decision during a church camp, conference or other “invitation” time. Too often, there was little follow-up surrounding those events, and no foundation was established. Have you come to the place in your life where you have put your faith in Jesus? That may seem like a silly question to those who are interested in ministry and helping young people grow in their faith, but it happens. We walk an aisle as a child and simply join a church. Be sure of your own faith.
• Revisit the days when you made your calling known. What prompted that decision? Was it something specific you encountered in God’s Word? Was it a person who spoke into your life? Was it an experience you had? When I attended Central Baptist College, I had already made known God’s call on my life. However, it wasn’t until I spent more time studying the Word and engaging with the godly instructors there that I realized God wanted more than just the parts of my life that I was willing to offer. He desired my entire life. That’s why I fully surrendered to the gospel ministry on the floor of my friend’s dorm room at 1 a.m. on March 5, 1991. I will always remember the conversations and studies that led to that decision. I will also never forget Steven Curtis Chapman’s song, “For the Sake of the Call,” which pointed me toward a life of gospel work. Those moments are cemented in my mind. They serve as reminders of how God guided me to follow Him. What was it like for you?
• Speak to those you trust. You should always be doing this. God has given us community for a reason. If those you trust don’t recognize a call on your life, you might need to revisit your decision. I have heard there are two types of calls on our lives. The first is an internal call, where God captures your heart, and the second is an external call, where God’s people notice that the Father is working in your life. Honestly, it should never surprise your church that you have surrendered your life to the ministry. When it is a surprise, there needs to be some conversations. Talk with your pastor. Talk with the other leaders in your life. Talk with your Bible college or seminary professors. Find those that you trust and step through it with them.
• Speak and listen to God through His Word. There is nothing quite like God’s Word to help us see where we are and understand what we should be doing. God’s Word lets us hear from God, and prayer allows us to communicate with Him. How is your daily time in the Word? Are you growing and learning from God consistently? If you are, God will affirm that calling upon your life.
The call to ministry encourages me to persevere even when I want to give up. I know that the work I do serves a greater purpose. Whether I am moving tables and chairs, sending out social media posts or preaching the Word, I know that it is all gospel work. When faced with tough situations and extra stress, the assurance of God’s calling on my life provides me hope when I simply want to quit. Let’s pray that God will call more to vocational ministry, and our churches will have plenty of student ministry workers and pastors as the years go by.
