July, 2005 

For the Sake of the Call…

Amos answered Amaziah, “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’” (Amos 7:14-15)

In June our congregation was in the final stages of contract negotiations to purchase 10 acres of land at Sossaman and Riggs. It was also in June that SRP (Salt River Project) began the legal action necessary to claim ‘eminent domain’ on a portion of that property necessary to build a power sub-station. So, it was in June that we backed out of the contract proceedings. But, it was also in June that our land committee re-dedicated itself to finding land for the ministry of Saving Grace!

Why? Probably for the same reason that Amos the prophet, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, found himself preaching to Amaziah the priest and Jeroboam the king of Israel – the call of God! Amos reminded Amaziah that he was not in this business because it was easy or fun or even because he was very good at it. No. He was a prophet simply because God had called him to the task.

Amos reminds us of the same thing. Our call into the ministry (and I’m not meaning just pastors in the Pastoral Office – I mean the ministry of all the baptized.) may have come at an inconvenient time. It may put us into places that challenge our set of skills and abilities. It may not always go well, and perhaps even suffer setbacks. But just as Amos kept on prophesying even after the king’s priest tried to stop him, so too will we continue our ministry to the people in and around Queen Creek. Why? Because God has called!

May God’s call on your life propel you forward in ministry!