Called to Craftsmanship

Shortly before I surrendered my life to the Lord, He called me to start JAMA Racing Ministry so we could minister to His people at the races. Yes, He called me before I surrendered. That really messed with some peoples theology on how God is suppose to call someone into ministry.

I felt the normal progression was to start ministering at the races and then move on to pastoring in a local assembly. So that’s what I sought for several years. I became an associate pastor for a friend in Louisiana after hurricane Katrina. It didn’t work out. Then we pioneered a church for 4 months at home. That didn’t work either. It seemed the only place I had success was at the races, so I concentrated my efforts there.

In 2008 the economy crashed shutting down most of the groups we were ministering in. That fall, the Lord had me step down as the chaplain for the only organization we had left to minister in. At that point I wasn’t sure what I was suppose to do. I spent the next nine months helping a friend with his church in hopes of being called to minister there…nope, did not happen.

In June of 2009 we were led to start Dragstory.com to report on the races. Dragstory led to us streaming races with other productions companies and eventually to start MotorManiaTV.com.

I still get the opportunity to speak at the races a few times a year, however, that is not the main focus of ministry for me. He has called me to minister in the marketplace through our business. Where has He called you to serve?

Blessings

Called to Craftsmanship
by Os Hillman

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts-to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.’” Exodus 31:1-5

Bezalel was called by God to perform a most important work for Him. I am sure that Bezalel believed that he was naturally gifted with his hands to make fine crafts with gold, silver, and bronze. He probably did not associate it with God’s work. But the Scripture tells us that God chose him and filled him with God’s Spirit to enable him.

Does God call men and women into their vocations to fulfill His purposes – to fulfill that which needs to be accomplished throughout the world? Have you ever thought about how many occupations there are in the world? How did that balance of interest among each human throughout the world happen? Did it just happen? Was it by chance that we have only so many doctors, only so many accountants, only so many geologists?

Your interest in your vocation is not born of your own making. So many workplace believers and even pastors have made the mistake of encouraging us who have a deep desire to walk with Christ in the workplace to pursue vocational ministry. To remove us from the workplace where the greatest harvest is yet to occur would be to remove us from where God called us. Do not take this bait. Serve the Lord in the workplace where He has gifted you and called you.

I almost made this same mistake when God drew me to Himself when I was 28 years old. I concluded that I must be called to be a pastor. I took steps to fulfill this by leaving my job and entering a Bible school for training. Upon completion, I took a job as an assistant pastor in a church. But God’s mercy allowed me to be removed from that position only three months into it. I was “forced back into business,” where God wanted me in the first place. It was a great lesson. I was never cut out to be a pastor in a church, but a “pastor” in the workplace.