His Call

We are preparing for the licensing and ordination service of Sean McKinney this evening, and we’re excited to celebrate Sean and Lara as they take this formal step and what it means for their children, Abigail and Luke, as well. It naturally brings up the memories of my own calling to the Church and to the Lord’s ministry. While South Tulsa is my first vocational ministry role, my calling to follow the Lord more closely happened while Claira and I were in Memphis, Tennessee. We were both starting our careers, and after several years in the market, we really felt the Lord calling us to ministry, whatever that looked like. Claira began teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults, and I was in a corporate role, but began working more closely with our local church to assist in committees, mission trips, small groups, and however else we could get plugged in. Shortly after this, the Lord led Claira and me back to South Tulsa. Our church in Memphis commissioned us, prayed over us, and we set out on I-40 in a U-Haul with all of our possessions. In Acts 13, we get a view of the early church’s process of sending, specifically the church in Antioch. Barnabas and Paul were among those who were there at the time, preparing for ministry. We read that “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Acts 13:1-3).

What can we learn from this passage? We see a church worshiping the Lord. We see a church fasting, seeking the Lord’s guidance. We see a church listening to the Holy Spirit. We see a church praying. We see a church obeying the command of the Spirit and going out.

As believers, we can apply this passage to our church here at South Tulsa and to our personal lives. Are you in a place to hear how the Lord wants to lead you? What is He calling you to in this season?