Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry (continued from page 1) Calls to Ministry For the Common Good 1 Corinthians 12:4-11: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. Insight: Pay attention to aspects of personality, interests, character, and skill that people display at camp or on retreat. This may be a significant clue to what God has given them to contribute toward making a difference in the world. They may have never thought about these attributes as gifts from God "for the common good." This recognition may inspire them to listen more attentively for calls to ministry and to explore how they might ease suffering or bring good where it is needed throughout their lives. For a Time Such As This Esther 4:10-16: Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law — all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden scepter to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days." When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father's family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this." Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish." Insight: Some calls to ministry arise as a result of a societal injustice. In Esther's case, her influence with the powerful (the king) enabled her to act on behalf of the people. Mordecai's requests and the needs of the people moved her beyond her own fear to speak out and to work to change a law that would cause great destruction. What social issues and needs touch the hearts of particular participants at camps or on retreats? An affinity with those who are suffering may, also, be a call to ministry. Ordained Ministry 1 Timothy 4:12-16: Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers. Insight: Timothy's call was to ordained ministry — a lifetime vocation to help the church be the people of God. Pastors must model Christian discipleship and help other Christians grow in faith and Christian practice. Theirs is a ministry within and beyond the church that prepares persons to more fully seek and follow God through a life of Christian service and love. It is crucial for the church to have elders and deacons who lead the church. Today, we are not doing an adequate job identifying, recruiting, and preparing people for ordained ministry, especially young adults. (Note: Timothy was a young adult). How can camp/retreat ministry present the opportunity to enter ordained ministries more proactively, so people can hear and respond as God calls them? (For more information, go to http://www.gbhem.org/ministry.html.)   Camp/Retreat Ministry Contacts Kevin Witt, Director of Camp/Retreat Ministries, Ktwjel@aol.com Connie Schmutz, Administrative Assistant, Cschmutz@gbod.org General Board of Discipleship National Camp/Retreat Ministry Office P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003 Toll-free: 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7134 Camping Web Site: http://www.gbod.org/camping/default.html To sign up for the Camp/Retreat Leader E-mail Network, contact ktwjel@aol.com or National UM Camp/Retreat Committee Chairperson John Farmer, John@campdonlee.org | Page 1 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Page 2 of Decisions of Faith & Calls to Ministry | | Share Our Worlds — Help Needed | | Share Our Worlds — Giving Partners Form | | The Role of Creation in Faith Formation: Avoiding the Pantheism Controversy | | Camp/Retreat Ministry Certification | | Resource Review | | Mark Your Calendars | | D. Min. 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