I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. ~ 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
Although this passage refers to the growth of the Chrisitan faith in believers, if I may, I’m going to take some liberty here and apply it to my calling into the ministry. The idea of becoming a pastor was first proposed some 20 years ago by members of my hometown church, Trinity Lutheran. I didn’t really consider that vocation at the time, but those suggestions have stayed with me ever since.
It wasn’t until about two years ago that I began to seriously think about the possibility of becoming a pastor. A trusted church friend of ours pulled me aside one evening to ask me about the ministry and offer his support. His encouragement resonated with me more than anyone else’s had before. This prompted Pamela and me to sit down and have some lengthy conversations about what it would take for me to become a pastor.
To say there was some hesitation is an understatement. We had become very comfortable in our lives in Brookings by this point. Good jobs, great homeschool group, amazing church, close to family - all the boxes were checked. It seemed very logical to ask, “Why would God make us so happy here if we’re supposed to be doing something else?” Of course, it’s foolishness to apply our limited human logic to God’s plans. In fact, as we would later discover, it was quite intentional that we would be asked to give up what we had come to appreciate to follow this call.
The next significant turning point came when I attended a men’s retreat in February 2019 led by Rev. Jeffrey Hemmer. He emphasized the Father’s command to live lives of sacrifice...always and in every way...exactly like Jesus. I returned from the weekend with one phrase echoing in my mind: “Stop making excuses!” All those reasons I could list for not becoming a pastor were not God’s proof I shouldn’t become a pastor but were my own attempts to tell God why I shouldn’t become a pastor. That, in case you were wondering, is a bad idea. Ultimately, this “decision” came down to only two questions. (1) Do we need more good pastors in this world? Always! (2) Am I able to be a good pastor? With the help of the Lord, I believe I can be. All the other questions about where and when and how were relatively insignificant in comparison. Despite this epiphany, I still wasn’t rushing to sign up for seminary. I needed someone wiser than myself to get me past that final hurdle. That someone was actually two someones - my pastors, Rev. Matthew Wurm and Rev. Micah Bauer.
I cannot overstate how much I have been influenced by these two men. On a broader scale, I have watched them do their best to shepherd the flock at Mt. Calvary through celebrations and struggles. I have heard them preach and teach God’s true Word in the Divine Service and Bible studies. I have admired the reverence with which they administer the Sacraments and the gentleness with which they care for their parishioners.
On a personal level, I have had the tremendous privilege of getting to know them and their families as friends. I have been granted a glimpse into the life of a pastor and his family. I’ve seen firsthand the joy they experience and the heartache they endure as they simultaneously serve in their vocations of pastors, husbands, and fathers. These men have challenged me, taught me, and inspired me more than I can accurately describe. I will be forever grateful for them.
All this is to say that when I needed someone to push me to take that first real step, it was, not surprisingly, one of these men who did it. Pastor Bauer contacted our synod’s seminaries to inform them I was ready to accept the call into the ministry. Within a week, I had spoken to admissions at both schools, and the ball was set in motion. And that’s where I’ll pick it up next time.
Photo: Black Hills National Forrest, Pactola Lake, 2019
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