Valerie Rae Hanneman
2 Corinthians 5:20a “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,” (KJV)
Shortly before graduating from McLane High School in 19"something” I heard about a new Bible College that was being established in Pasadena, CA - Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College. After hearing about it, I felt the call of God to go into the cream of the crop of full-time ministry. I was going to be a missionary and serve Jesus in some far off land. So off to Bible college I went. It was about mid-year that I hit a big snag in my calling. We had a missionary visit our campus and speak to the students. I was fine with his talk, right up to the point when he told a story about being invited to dinner at the home of one of the families in the village he & his wife were serving in. Even though the family was serving them the best they had to offer, the description of what these missionaries ate in order to not offend this family put me in the bathroom where it felt like I lost all the food I had eaten for the past month into the toilet. I am not going to share what they ate because even after all these years - it still makes my stomach queasy. I knew at that point in time that although I considered a missionary to be the highest calling from God - it was not my calling. I went back to Fresno that summer and just never went back to Bible college. My call to full-time ministry got lost in a lifestyle that disintegrated into purposeful defiance of my Father.
Nine years ago when I turned back to Father and heard Him tell me that He would take me back - that nothing would ever be able to separate us - I was awed by His forgiveness and love for me. (I still am.) I made a commitment to Him that I would never leave Him again. After a couple of years of relearning how to live I remembered that call to full time ministry. I knew that it was way to late in my life to become a missionary - but maybe I could be ordained? Maybe full time Children’s ministry? Maybe something else? I explored a lot of different options - I even got accepted at Trinity University in Chicago for attendance through on-line classes. But the challenges of being full-time employed while being a single mother supporting two children and my mom made it impossible for me to devote either the time or the finances to my dream. And so I put my desire to be in full time ministry on the back burner of my life - with a promise of “someday when .......”
And in doing so - I shortchanged myself and I shortchanged Father.
Willie is called into full time ministry His job is to glorify Jesus (worship), reach the lost (serve) and build the Church (Big C - not little one) (grow). He does that by being the Senior Pastor of Fresno First Baptist Church. Terri Purgasen is called into full time ministry. Her job is to glorify Jesus, reach the lost and build the Church. She does that by being the Equipping Pastor at Fresno First Baptist Church. Bryan Hitch is called to full time ministry. His job is to glorify Jesus, reach the lost and build the church. He does that by being the Worship Pastor at Fresno First Baptist Church. Chris Aycock is called to full time ministry. His job is to glorify Jesus, reach the lost and build the church. He does that by being the Youth Pastor at Fresno First Baptist Church. Valerie Rae Hanneman is called to full time ministry. My job is to glorify Jesus, reach the lost and build the church. I do that by being the Fiscal Director at Central California Legal Services.
The only difference between Willie’s call to full time ministry and my call to full time ministry is the place where were are called to serve. We have each been given our own gifts and talents that make us uniquely qualified and equipped to serve exactly where Jesus has placed us in full time ministry. We are both called to 24/07 ministry. Willie doesn’t pick up Jesus at the door of the church because that is where he works and I don’t drop Jesus off at the door of CCLS because that is where I work.
Earlier this evening I was at Care Fresno Kids Klub having fun with a bunch of neighborhood kids. Right now I am typing out my thoughts. Tomorrow I will take my son to bowling. On Sonday I will lift my hands in praise and on Monday I will be back at CCLS. All of them different locations and situations - but for me - one purpose. To be an ambassador of Jesus - to be His full time minister in each location and situation I find myself.
You are called to full time ministry. Your job is to glorify Jesus, reach the lost and build the Church. You do that at your job, in your school, where you shop, and in the neighborhood where you live. You have been given gifts and talents that make you uniquely qualified and equipped to serve right where Jesus has put you. Your call to full time ministry is no different from Willie’s, Terrie’s, Bryan’s or Chris’ - you are just called to a different place of service.
Our ministry is no less important than Willie’s just because we do not serve in the church. Willie’s ministry is no more important that ours just because he does. (Now, don’t get me wrong - Willie and others who serve full time in churches deserve great respect - mostly because they have to deal with people like me.)
There is no higher calling than to serve God to the best of our ability in the place where He has put us to serve Him. If we do then we are deserving of great respect. And God does respect us and honor us. It just doesn’t get any better than that.
We are in full time ministry. Glorify Jesus, reach the lost, build the Church. It’s what we are called to do.
My LORD and my God, to be Your ambassador, Your full time minister is the highest calling in my life. Help me to glorify You with my life, to reach out to others with the story of Your great love and to build up those in the Church.
Subscribe to the e-Ministry of Fresno First Baptist at valerie@fresnofirst.org
Posted by Valerie at April 8, 2005 06:54 PM