Do we follow our calling?

It has been a while since I have written anything, and it’s truly a blessing to post again. This one will be about the calling. My wife and I were called to the ministry in 2018. It has been a road of ups and downs, but it isn’t something to where we quit or walk away. When it is one of the downs, it’s something that we continue to do no matter what because it’s a calling. It is a dedication to the Lord to serve and to do it with everything that we have, even when we feel like it isn’t enough. We transitioned from doing our services in different locations in the past few years since we started. At first, we started around our kitchen table. Then, we met in my kids’ elementary school cafeteria, and then we transitioned into house church. We did that in Graniteville, North Augusta, then we moved it to Hephzibah, Ga where I live and grew up. When it comes to doing worship, you can do it anywhere,and we are currently doing it in my living room under a new name- Grace Bible Church of Hephzibah. I have felt like God has been giving me signs to reach out to this community of South Augusta, and it came to a point where we had families leave our Church for different reasons. This gave us the opportunity to reach this area with everything that we have.

 “Let every man abide in the calling wherein he is called, unless there be to him some special call from God to devote himself to the ministry. Go on with your employment, dear Christian people, and do not imagine that you are to turn hermits, or monks, or nuns. You would not glorify God if you did so act. Soldiers of Christ are to fight the battle out where they are.”

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

You may say, “Why are you writing about this?” Well, it’s clear I want to give encouragement to others who are dealing with this, even questioning their calling and having thoughts of going away from it. Take the time and pray on every situation in your life and go where God leads you. Never rely on your own understanding or your heart because it will lead you astray. The calling should always be strong in your life and should dictate the things that you accomplish in your life. Even regarding my Monday through Friday job that I have, the first thing I wanted them to be aware of was that I am a pastor first and foremost I wanted them to be aware because it is the most important thing in my life. I get looked at differently sometimes because of it. I have lost friends and family members because of the calling. but it is so worth it because God means so much more to me and to us. The way I see it is if God wants you to serve, He doesn’t want us to run from it; He wants us faithful no matter what, and our emotions mean nothing to a Holy God and to the ultimate Sovereign being. 1 Tim speaks clearly about the calling. Paul is speaking to a doubting Timothy, but Paul gives him encouragement to complete the mission and to do the work of the Lord. We cannot hide from it. We can try covering it up, but God makes a way to use the called and to utilize them in ways that will Glorify Himself. We must continue the work, saints, and we must do it with our all no matter how hard the situations are and how dim the light may be. I hope this gives you encouragement and you can get something out of these words on a late night.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Bernard

It is a trustworthy saying: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.

1 Timothy 3:1