First United Methodist Church of West Branch
2490 W State Road, West Branch, MI 48661
Phone: 989-345-0210
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This page was last updated: September 2, 2010
God Call
My friend remembers standing in his living room behind the chair, watching golf when God’s Spirit told him that he was going to be a minister.There was no rhyme, reason or warning. God just came to him in the middle of an ordinary day. It’s interesting to think about God’s call on our lives. Some people have a strong call that knocks them off their feet, others feel God leading them all their lives. God call s all of us, at some time in our lives, to follow in one way or another- as teachers, preachers, healers, prophets, and more.
I was working as a Christian Educator in Coldwater, MI when God spoke to me. Our friend was dying and I was sitting by her bedside. After calling our minister and being told that he was presently too busy to come by her house, I sat by her side until she passed on and we could call the funeral director.
It was during this time that God said that this is what I would be doing for the rest of my life. My job as a Christian Educator used my teacher’s training well. My son and I were very happy in Coldwater. There was no earthly reason that God should call me- I was a divorced mother who had no extra special training- only a heart for God.
God’s plans took me outside of my comfort zone. I talked to one person at the church whose son was a United Methodist minister. She gave me his number so I could talk with him and then told me about the United Methodist seminary days where they were recruiting students. After I talked to her son and went to two of the recruitment days, seminary became more real and God’s call was not so strange. It took me a while to fulfill my requirements to become an Elder in the United Methodist Church, but the rewards have been all that God promised.
It is good that God called me, even if it didn’t make sense at the time. Some of you are getting calls from our Nominations committee, asking if you would serve in a special capacity in our church structure.
I hope that you will seriously listen for God’s call on your life and discuss with God how you can be helpful in our world.
There are many ways that we can serve and many people to be served. There is room for everyone to be useful and helpful to God as we listen to God calling us.
Blessings, Rev. Lisa Cook
