The Call

The Call is all about having purpose in your life. Anyone who has been called has a purpose. Christian campus ministers must discover what their purpose on the college campus is, and how to use that purpose to influence a generation or more of students. Os Guiness writes, “Many a scientist has an encyclopedic knowledge of the world, many a philosopher can survey vast systems of thought, many a theologian can unpack the profundities of religion, and many a journalist can seemingly speak on any topic raised. But all that is theory and, without a sense of purpose, vanity” (3). A minister without a purpose is like a ship without a sail tossed here and there by the waves with no real direction. Guiness says, [The Call] is for all who long to find and fulfill the purpose of their lives” (4).

This book helps the campus minister learn what a calling really is. Guiness puts it this way, “Calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with special devotion and dynamism lived out in response to his summons and service” (4). This definition helps the aspiring college campus minister to realize his task, which it is going to take all that he is by the grace of God in order to be an effective minister and person of influence. If he cannot handle this reality, then he should find something else to do.

Guiness teaches throughout his book that in order to answer the call and find purpose for your life, you must listen to Jesus Christ and be obedient to Him. A minister apart from this is no minister at all. Guiness writes, “Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him” (31). Without this proper perspective the minister will never arrive at his secondary calling or vocation, which is, “everyone, everywhere, and in everything should think, speak, live, and act entirely for Him” (31). Why is this important for the college minister to discover? Because he will be helping students to realize these same callings in their lives. It is the minister’s task to influence a young lawyer to be a good Christian lawyer with character. It is his job to help the young historian to have the proper biblical perspective on history.

Most college students are totally focused on themselves, but ministers must help them to realize the truth that God owns everything. Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not one square inch of the entire creation about which Jesus Christ does not cry out, ‘This is mine! This belongs to me!’” (35). The Call helps one to see the biblical worldview on vocations. Since college campus ministers are in such a unique sphere of influence, it behooves them to help students understand that worldview.

Many a minister has been greatly gifted only to use that for selfish gain. College ministers must not do this. Guiness makes this point, “God normally calls us along the line of our giftedness, but the purpose of giftedness is stewardship and service, not selfishness” (45). This must be lived out and modeled for students because they are watching and learning. Leadership is a lifestyle.

Being a minister means you are going to have to take a stand at one point or another. Challenges must be faced. Guiness’ challenge to his readers is “to behave as our Lord would wish us to behave” (58). That can be quite a difficult task in our present day and culture. Will we be found faithful?

Answering the call means “listening to [God], trusting Him, and obeying Him when He calls that we ‘let God be God’ in all of His awe and majesty” (64). The issue of sovereignty must be settled in the life of the minister. College students desperately need to see someone who is totally sold out to God in every aspect of his life. Guiness says, “The only way to follow is to leave everything and follow Him. Here is a call that makes short work of all our questions, objections, and evasions. Disciples are not so much those who follow as those who must follow” (65). This is what making disciples on the college campus is all about. Guiness also says, “A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all others—the Audience of One” (70). The college minister must be about pleasing only one person, and that person is God. You have to get to the point where you do what you do for Jesus—you only want to please Him. It is not about pleasing the students or the college dean. It is, however, about following hard after God.

Burnout in ministry is pretty common these days. Of course, it can happen even on the college campus. Guiness offers a solution to this, “God’s calling is the key to igniting passion for the deepest growth and highest heroism in life” (78). Once you can grad hold of that, try your very best to get your students to grab hold of it. Be a fire starter! Fan the flames!

It is important for the minister, especially the college campus minister, to be able to work well with others, partnering to accomplish a common goal. Guiness writes, “The call of Jesus is personal but not purely individual; Jesus summons His followers not only to an individual calling but also to a corporate calling” (93). You can do this by partnering with other nearby campus ministries. Another way to do this is to have good relations with the local churches in the area of the school. Churches should support campus ministries, and campus ministries should support the churches.

Well, these are just some of the gleanings taken from The Call by Os Guiness. Much can be learned from this wonderful book dealing with the call of God. I recommend it to any college ministry for personal and group enrichment. It is especially helpful for clearing up the meaning of God’s call(s) on a person’s life. May God continue to bless Guiness’ teaching through his book!