It was 1976 when I uprooted my family, my wife and infant son, and moved to Rochester, Minnesota to attend Bible college. I was 21 years old. One of my professors asked the question as to why I came to Bible college. I answered, “God called me.” He asked, “how did He do that?” My answers were mostly about my feelings. My answers did not impress the man with a master’s degree in divinity and a doctorate in theology. He was also a man deeply committed to teaching Biblical truth and preparing men and women for service in God’s kingdom on earth. I have learned a lot since that day, 46 years ago, much of it the hard way.
Step 12 of The Twelve Steps for anonymous groups is about ministry. “Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I find that this Step is in sync with the Biblical mandates for all followers of Jesus. But how and why? The why is wonderfully depicted in Titus 3:3-7, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of H ...
