Over the past 10 years I have had a journey that I didn't realize I was on. It started when my mother was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor and we began to go to church again. At first I went just to support my mom and give my dad some time to be alone. But while I was sitting in this strange Episcopal church I noticed that all of these people were saying these things out of this little red book, and I wanted to know if I agreed with what they were saying before I was going to say any of it! So I started reading the words of the service and listening to the priest (a woman?! I'd never seen one of those on TV). As I sat, and read, and listened, and thought, I slowly was able to figure things out. I did agree with what they were saying, and decided that it was okay for me to say the same things that they were saying. This whole church thing was okay.

    Later on that same year, I started going to a youth group on Wednesdays at this Baptist church. I didn't want to go at first, but my younger brother kept nagging and nagging and nagging. And so finally I went just to get him off my back. And I went again. And again. And again. And pretty soon I realized that I liked it. I enjoyed the people there, and I had a great time hearing about God. And so I was really involved in church while I was in high school, or so I thought....

    My brother was sent to this thing called a "conference" by my priest, Linda. After he came back he kept on singing this crazy song, "I am the Lord of the dance said He, and they danced, and they danced...." It was cool that he had a good time, but the song did get kinda annoying after the 500th time. Needless to say I was encouraged to go to this kind of event as well. I didn't want to go. I thought I was fine – I went to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and I paid attention to the sermons, and I prayed. I was doing more than anyone else my age – I was doing all that God wanted me to, right? Apparently not! I eventually went to this "conference" thing and it was the coolest!!!! I met this CRAZY guy named Steve Schafer. What a wacko!!

    And then began the rollercoaster that has since become my life! I went to every conference that I could in my time remaining in high school, and I went to church camps, and I went to this thing called SEARCH (which Rick Meyer has destroyed all evidence of). And when I graduated I staffed everything – conferences, Bishop's Ball, SEARCH, camps – and I joined this group called the Youth Ministries Commission. Certainly I was done, right?

    Nope. God kept giving me more and more to do until just two years ago I stopped and looked around to see where my life was – it was nowhere near where I was planning on being. I had come to one of those moments when you realize something that changes you forever. God was using me to minister!! Me?!?! Can you believe that? Why would God use me to minister to all of these people?

    God had snookered me!!! He tricked me!!! I thought that I was just going to church to support my mom and give my dad a break from everything that our family was going through. But now I realized that God had asked me to support His people and help them with the things that they were going through.

    I had come to that point where I realized my call to minister. God wanted me to serve Him by serving His youth. Nearly 20 years after my baptism I was able to see the vocation that God had called me to: youth ministry. Let me tell you, it's not the first calling that I would have chosen and it's not for the faint of heart. It's difficult at times, and easy at times. It's joyful at times, and sorrowful at other times. It takes a willingness to go the extra mile for someone who won't remember it, and it also means that people will remember the things you did without intending anything special by it. It takes a shoulder to cry on, and a heart to lift someone up. But most importantly, like all calls to ministry, it requires a willingness to be open to the call of God.

    Most people don't realize that they are called to minister because of their baptism, but that is exactly what baptism is all about. It is a public declaration that you are sealed as Christ's own and that you will serve Him. Most of us don't realize that. Some of us don't realize it until years down the road. And some of us don't realize until we are in the middle of that calling what God wants us to do.

    So, what is God calling you to do? Have you started your calling already? I hope that you are all like me and that God has snookered you all. I hope He's tricked you and you are already very fully into the ministry that He has called you to by your baptism. And if not, don't worry – just stop and listen. He'll tell you how he wants you to minister to all of His people.

"I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." – Mark 1:8

In His Grip,

Christopher "Lil Joe" Sonsteng

© 2001, Diocese of Oregon
updated 05/03/2003 16:26
contact: kylew@diocese-oregon.org