How will YOU hear God’s calling?

“I have something for you to read.” Neil pointed to a Bible verse. Marvin silently read, “Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” He felt stabbed in his heart! Neil, who had just returned from a year’s missionary/Bible training, wanted Marvin to join him when he and five other young people left from their Denver area church for training in California. Marvin felt he had a valid reason for not stepping out into missions.

Marvin, who had accepted the Lord right after high school graduation, was growing in his new-found faith. He had been the man of the house ever since his dad had left him, his mother, and four younger siblings. At 10 years old, he started working - early morning newspaper deliveries along with after-school and summer jobs to help his mother keep the family together. His help was still needed. 

Praise God for the dynamic, missionary-sending church the Lord directed Marvin to. Pastor “Sherm” was busy with a large church but took time to mentor young men. He poured God’s Word into Marvin’s life. Missionaries spoke passionately of God’s great love for the millions still untold. And that stabbing verse, 1 Corinthians 15:34, continued to resonate by the Holy Spirit’s guiding. When the next group of young adults left for missionary training, Marvin was on board! God, always faithful, took care of his family. And my husband, Marvin, never looked back. That was 70 years ago!

For me, God used a song to direct my heart. Unlike Marvin, I came from a Christian home, full of love and tenderness towards God’s heart. “I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain or plain or sea; I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what You want me to be.”

For my ACTION missionary friend, Erin, God used a soccer game to guide her towards giving her life to serve Him. One day after graduating from architectural engineering and having found a good (but not fulfilling) job, she was walking in a park in North Carolina. A group of young adults invited her to join in their soccer game. They invited her to a BBQ afterwards, then to a Bible Study, and later on a 2-week missions trip! For 12½ years now, she’s been loving on and working with very poor kids in the Philippines.

How will YOU hear God’s calling? A verse, a song, a soccer game, or??? Let’s earnestly pray Matthew 9:38!