Calling Lesson #1

For most people, calling roles change throughout life

I used to think that my Christian calling would be the one specific thing God calls me to DO in this world for Him. For many people it’s a career. For others, it’s another role, such as mother, father, volunteer, etc.

So I thought my calling was to make a difference in the world as a college chemistry professor while serving through my local church. I planned to be a professor until I retired, then I planned to do volunteer missions.

But then my roles at church became more rewarding and impactful than the professor gig. On Palm Sunday of 2003, I answered God’s strong call into vocational Christian ministry at my church.

Calling Lesson #4

Mountaintops and valleys recur throughout a lifetime of calling!

My first years on the church staff were awesome! God changed lives through my leadership and teaching, and I grew phenomenally in my faith. 

But in 2011, personal and professional stress resulted in emergency hospitalization with classic symptoms of heart attack and stroke. Medical tests showed no physical damage, but in 2013, I resigned my church position because I was physically unable to do it anymore.

Two months before I resigned my church role, God prompted me at a Speak Up Conference to become a Christian life coach. During most of my adult life, God had worked through me to help people find and fulfill their calling. So I enrolled in training to do that as a career.

I immediately started getting coaching clients, some from my church, and some who found me on the Internet. And I loved it!

But I also missed the big impact of helping lots of people at once, and the larger influence of a church staff person. I wondered if the best years of my calling and ministry were behind me.

Furthermore, I regretted that my own moral failures, unbalanced time management, and wrong decisions had prompted God to give up on me with regard to calling.

Calling Lesson #7

The best part of calling happens during the second half, or even the last quarter, of life!

Tony Stoltzfus’ research predicts that your time of biggest impact and fulfillment in your calling will be late in life. Tony calls this the Fulfillment Stage of your calling.

In your Fulfillment Stage, you’ll discover the sweet spot where your passions, experiences, and abilities combine to make the most difference in the world.

The Fulfillment Stage often involves mentoring, coaching, writing, or other activities that multiply your influence and legacy through other people, who will in turn will influence even more people for Christ, and on down the line.

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." -1 Corinthians 2:9