The Calling by Roger Fields

The Calling

By Roger Fields

I am a minister of education. My mission field is the largest on earth. I minister to children who are becoming adults – high school students. I teach them about and introduce them to Jesus Christ.

My calling is sure. My challenge is big. My vision is clear. My desire is strong. My influence is eternal. My impact is critical. My values are solid. My faith is tough. My mission is urgent. My purpose is unmistakable. My direction is forward. My heart is genuine. My strength is supernatural. My reward is promised. And my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is real.

In a world of cynicism, I offer hope. In a world of confusion, I offer truth. In a world of immorality, I offer values. In a world of neglect, I offer attention. In a world of abuse, I offer safety. In a world of ridicule, I offer affirmation. In a world of division, I offer reconciliation. In a world of bitterness, I offer forgiveness. In a world of sin, I offer salvation. In a world of hate, I offer the love of Jesus.

I refuse to be dismayed, disengaged, disgruntled, discouraged, or distracted. Neither will I look back, stand back, fall back, go back, or sit back. I do not need applause, flattery, adulation, prestige, stature, or veneration. I have no time for business as usual, mediocre standards, small thinking, outdated methods, normal expectations, average results, ordinary ideas, petty disputes or low vision. I will not give up, give in, bail out, lie down, turn over, quit or surrender.  I am compelled by the love of Christ. I implore others to come to Him.

I will pray when things look bad. I will pray when things look good. I will move forward when others stand still. I will trust in Christ when obstacles arise. I will push when the task is overwhelming. I will get up when I fall down.

My calling is to reach young people for Jesus Christ. This task is too serious to be taken lightly, too urgent to be postponed, too vital to be ignored, too relevant to be overlooked, too significant to be trivialized, too eternal to be fleeting, and too passionate to be quenched.

I know my mission. I know my challenge. I also know my limitations, my weaknesses, my fears and my problems. And I know my Savior – and my Lord; He is Jesus. Let others get the praise. Let the church get the blessing. Let Jesus get the glory.

I am a minister of education. I minister to young people who are becoming adults … and who are already or are becoming disciples of Jesus Christ. This is who I am. This is what I do.