Discerning Your Call

Alan Howell

Director of Church Relations

“Calling 

1: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence 

2: the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages” (Merriam-Webster) 

Conversations about calling to ministry and missions can be confusing for a number of reasons.  We may have trouble knowing if the call is for us, or how to answer it, or then what to do about it (or all of the above!).  But a significant challenge for many has to do with how to discern their call as it relates to the experiences and expectations of others. 

Having an appreciation for the “Spectrum of Calling” can be helpful here.   

Consider the visible spectrum: there is a range of colors that the human eye can see (and other colors that we cannot!).  In a similar way, people who are called to participate in the Mission of God, experience their calling in a range of ways.  On one end, there are those who sense that Christ is calling them to a “Specific Answer.”  That may be to go to a certain country or people group.  Or to serve people from a specific religious background.  Or it could be a sense of calling to work with people under a specific form of poverty or oppression.  People at this end of the spectrum may end up feeling like Jonah.  They were called to something specific, and they see their faithfulness as tied to that one role or outcome.  This group will certainly still need to discern details, but the answer to the overall call will be fairly clear and singular. 

On the other end of the calling spectrum are those who we could describe as “Generally Available.”  They resonate with the Prophet Isaiah when he said, “Here am I, send me.”  They are willing to go but they may not have a specific vision for where or what that will look like.  I personally found myself on this end of the spectrum.  I felt called to ministry and ended up going to Mozambique, but I think that there are a bunch of things that I could have done with my life that would have been faithful answers to God’s calling. 

Discerning a call can be complicated and knowing how to fit that within the range of experiences can be extremely helpful.  If you would like some help discerning your call and seeing how it fits on the spectrum and how it fits you, we would love to help with that. If you follow the link here, you’ll be able to get your personal GUIDE Reflection Process.  After you've filled out your GUIDE, send it to us at startthejourney@mrnet.org to discern your next steps. MRN staff will prayerfully read through it and reach out to set up a free coaching conversation with you. An experienced staff member will walk with you through the GUIDE reflection page and help you make a practical plan for the next steps in exploring God’s calling for your life.   We’d love to assist you in any way that we can.