My Call to Ministerial Leadership

It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God—but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life and be holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people—and this is not learned in five minutes..." All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. -Oswald Chambers

Flying Towards the Call!!!

My call to the vocation of ministry has been quite an interesting one like many who are called to say the least. It has seen its share of doubt, trepidation, and reluctance. I received a sense of my calling when I was a pre-teen in the late 80’s. I knew I had the gift of public speaking but I did not know in what capacity. As time went on life experiences began to shape and influence my thoughts about race, religion, and culture thus I began to establish a context for my gift. I have always had a fondness for people and helping others but little did I know how far I would take it. I began coaching and mentoring youth as a teen which also began to influence my call. The voices of Martin and Malcolm would provide to be the earthly model(s) for my call. However the ultimate model for my call is Jesus Christ. But how to exactly model the Christ would prove to be the ultimate dilemma because being a minister of the Gospel/Holy Scriptures is not an easy task.

     The shear fears of the high standard(s) this vocational calling requires, scared the mess out of me! Who in this life could possibly want to run towards this call? Because I knew that a life in ministerial leadership requires a life that goes all out and gives its all just as Christ did. I admire and see the tireless work various men and women of ministry and leadership such as Louis Farrakhan, Jeremiah A. Wright, Cornel West, James Cone, and Vashti McKenzie, I know that they have all made the ultimate sacrifice and give the utmost dedication to their craft. So why would I possibly want this headache? 

For me coming from an athletic background having competed in football both collegiately and professionally a life of service through ministry was one of the furthest things from my mind. I knew it would require me to make sacrifices, give my time, and become selfless characteristics in which the world of professional sports shuns in many regards. Although I have been a leader in a variety of settings throughout my life nothing I have done compares to the level of leadership required to emulate a mythological super hero such as Jesus. However once I began to realize that life of Jesus was not based on a fabulous tale or that he was not a milquetoast being who went to his death without putting up a fight—I fully understood what this high standard of leadership would mean for me. Around the time when I was in my mid to late twenties, is when I finally stop running and accepted my fate and vocation into ministerial leadership.


I understood that it would require me to become a servant leader which means I have the humility to serve others versus being served. It would require me to have a heart for humanity regardless of race, creed, color or gender. I would truly have to exemplify Matthew 22:37 where it says “And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Furthermore it would require me to have a strong prayer filled life, speak the word of God, and seek theological knowledge and training. “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” Those words from the gospel of Luke are so relevant even more now!

We ask the question of WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) but instead the question should really be WDJD (What Did Jesus Do?). Jesus set the bar high for those called to ministerial leadership. He is the ultimate example and standard because he gave the ultimate sacrifice. Especially when he could have not travelled that way but he ultimately knew it was not about his will but that of the will of the Father. Jesus’ supreme sacrifice showed the highest form of love which is agape love—this love is what one who is called to ministry must emulate at all times.

   Furthermore one must show them self approved at all times because life in ministry will not be an easy road to travel. Jesus’ walk will be the measurement(s) of how I constantly check my walk in ministry and if I am not living up to what he did then I must seek God for revelation in my service. God recruits ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Things that are not of man’s doing but of His divine will for our lives that deify the human realm of things. These are the things that Christ did which is why his ministry was so effective—he spread his message of agape love to humanity through his flawless example of doing God’s will.

Ultimate Sacrifice!

     The life of Christ was the supreme sacrifice—it means that all the cards were on the table and that he held nothing back. The life Christ lived gave all that he had of himself –my call means I owe it my “ALL!” I must not give up when times get tough or when the finances are not there, or when it seems the entire world is against me. “A man that stands for nothing will fall for anything.” I must always remember Jesus’ supreme sacrifice throughout my journey. I must never allow my fears to unnerve me or make me waver in my stance. The life of ministerial leadership challenges one to measure up to the life of Christ daily. Something in my opinion that is highly impossible but with the help of Almighty God we that are called can be the best flawed examples we can be.

All The Cards On The Table...

      Understanding that we are imperfect and blemished vessels even though we speak the Word of God, challenges us to remember our humility and never become full of ourselves. We are in constant servant leadership mode. The life of Christ influences the understanding of my call by being the model or example of what the goals and objectives of my call are—am I doing what Jesus did? Did I give all of myself? If I can honestly and wholeheartedly answer those questions then I am truly imitating Jesus and exemplifying proper ministerial leadership. I am not being one of lip service but one who is constantly putting all the cards on the table!

      The idea a being exceptional in the sight of God is an honorable and noble thing to achieve for those whom minster the word of God. Some of us think that achieving this feat requires us to go above and beyond the call of duty—when in fact it does not at all. However it does require us to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life—the things we take for granted and look over because they seem to be ordinary and plain when in fact they are not. Are we exceptional only at giving the benediction, preaching Sunday service or teaching Wednesday bible study? Unfortunately for many ministers we exhibited our exceptional behavior only when in front of the camera to sort of speak. But it's when the camera is off that shows who and what we truly are as imitators of Christ!


The walk of the righteous is not filled with the pretentious behavior that some of us tend to display as ministers of God. Jesus said it best "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." A life in service to Almighty God is plain and simple but yet exceptional in that it is a life that totally deviates from the norm of what is deemed as exceptional in this world. The world has its set of rules and God has His—which one do you choose? Service in the sight of God is the standard “modus operandi” for the steadfast servant leader, he or she never waivers, for they are always on their post of duty and service—thus constantly modeling the life of Christ.