Stepping into the Call

When God begins to whisper a call in your life, it is an amazing feeling!  Suddenly you are face to face with the reality that the God of the Universe has chosen you for God's world-changing purpose.  Honestly, that's incredible and overwhelming.  But it's not enough to merely hear the call of God, you have to do something about it!  You have to take the next step!  This weekend you heard Pastor Danny Drummond talk about his call into ministry.  In January, Danny will be attending The West Ohio Conference's Candidacy Summit.  It's an opportunity for Danny to take his next step toward becoming a local licensed pastor in The United Methodist Church.  Although this next step will include spiritual and educational requirements for Danny, it will not change his role or position here at Shiloh.  In other words, he's not going anywhere!  We have the priviledge of being part of helping shape Danny into the pastor God is calling him to be.  But Danny isn't the only one on staff stepping into their call as pastor.  

Pastor Brent Dearnell is shifting, "changing seats" here at Shiloh.  For the last 6 years Brent has served as the Pastor of Youth and Young Adults.  Brent's leadership and passion for ministry has not only changed the lives of many young people, but has really shaped the direction of our church.  Brent is an incredible leader, and wants nothing more than to do God's Kingdom work!  In September 2012, our church participated in a 3-year visioning process that named Adult Discipleship as one of the main areas of growth needed and necessary for Shiloh to fulfill it's mission of 'claiming our community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ.'  Brent very prophetically asked 'what are we going to do about it?'  That is when Brent and I, along with the SPPRC (Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee), decided to expand Brent's role as Associate Pastor to include Adult Discipleship.  Brent will serve as the Director of Discipleship, including all persons: children, youth, and adults.  He will be asking the quesiton, "how do we help people become fully submitted followers of Jesus Christ?"  Since Brent's role is shifting and Shiloh is absolutely committed to the sucess of youth ministry, we will be hiring a new Director of Youth Ministries in June.  This person will be committed full time to investing in our youth and helping our youth become fully submitted followers of Jesus Christ!  Brent is stepping into his calling!  It's amazing, church, to see these young men experience the power of God's call on their lives.   

But it's not just Danny and Brent.  It's you, too!  How are you stepping into God's call on your life?  Stepping into a call implies movement.  So what next steps do you need to take?  If you want to talk about next steps, feel free to talk to me, Pastor Danny or Pastor Brent about God's call on your life. 

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel