I'm working on completing my application for Reformed Theological Seminary. One component of the application is sharing your conversion story. For those of you who don't know me very well, I figured it might help you to better understand what makes me tick.
My Conversion Story
As I look back on my life, I am unable to remember a time when I was not attending church. During my childhood years, my Mother religiously brought me to church and Sunday school every week. My family was Lutheran, so we always attended a Lutheran Church Missouri Synod church. I went through all of the standard rights of passage for a Lutheran kid. To prove it, I have a framed certificate stating that I was baptized as an infant and another showing that I was confirmed in 8th grade. After confirmation I was considered an adult in the church. I was now able to participate in the sacrament of Holy Communion and my name was part of the weekly usher rotation. In some sense, I suppose you could say that I had finally arrived. All that was left was to attend church every Sunday until the day I died. However, I had a longing in my heart for something more. It was during those early teen years following my confirmation that God took hold of my heart. At the age of 13, I knew enough information about the Bible and basic theology to "talk the talk". Outwardly, I appeared to be a devout Christian kid, who had it together. However, that was my public persona for my "church friends". In hindsight, I realize that I hadn't experienced a conversion at that point. I knew a lot of factual information, but it was all in my head and not in my heart. Through the mentoring of a close friend and his youth pastor, I began to understand more about that longing I felt for something deeper. In response to that longing and my new found understanding, I confessed my sins and asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
So at the age of 13, I had my conversion experience, but had yet to receive a calling. As my teen years progressed I continued to look for ways to serve and minister inside and outside the church. I was able to serve as a leader/mentor for the younger kids in my youth group. My Boy Scout troop appointed me as the chaplain's aid, thus giving me the responsibility to say grace at meals and assist the chaplain with Bible readings at summer camp. For a few years, I worked with a number of friends to co-lead a Bible study each week at our high school. Through these activities, I was able to get my first taste of hands-on ministry. In the midst of all this I received what I understand to be my calling. When I was 17, I felt a heavy burden in my heart for teaching. God has inspired me with a love of learning for the Bible and I felt He was calling me to learn as much as I can about the Bible in order that I might teach others.
In light of this calling, I enrolled in the pre-seminary program at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN. It was here that I got my first taste of Greek, Hebrew, and the wider world of Biblical and theological studies. During these first couple of years of college, my pastor back home took me under his wing and allowed me to participate in his pastoral visits to the elderly and sick. He gave me a lot of exposure to the ins and outs of what he experienced each day as a pastor. And then I met a girl.
During my 3rd year of college I met and married my wife. Soon after we got married, I transferred to Bethel College, where she attended and continued my studies in their Biblical and Theological studies program. 12 months into our marriage we had our first child. With the additional financial challenges that come with a first child, I elected to take a break from school and join the world of the full-time working man.
I have lived a lot of life in the 9 years and 5 children that have followed those early days back in college. My relationship with the Lord has grown deeper and more intimate. There are times when He's wanted to take a mile and I stubbornly only want to give an inch. The last three years have been especially meaningful as I've reached a place in my life where I'm more and more able to trust Him with all aspects of my life. His yoke truly is easy and His burden is light. Also during the past 9 years, I've continued serving the churches I've attended in various capacities. I've worn the hats of Sunday school teacher, Men's ministry leader and worship team vocalist. While I get great joy in serving God through all of these things, I continue to have a burden for the calling I felt at age 17. Ezra 7:9-10, "The good hand of God was upon him, for Ezra set his heart to study the Torah of Yahweh, to practice it, and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." is a verse that I dwell on often as it describes what I understand to be my calling. It is with this calling in mind that I'm seeking to continue in my advanced biblical and theological studies at RTS in the hope that it will better prepare me for the Christian service that lies before me.
Labels: Seminary
