The 7 Cs – Calling

At Baptist Search Partners, we orient our partnership and search process around 7 Cs. They are:
1. Conversion
2. Calling
3. Character
4. Competence
5. Culture
6. Chemistry
7. Confirmation of the Holy Spirit

In Scripture, we find robust, well-outlined teaching on a number of theological topics. We know that God is one, yet he exists in three persons. We know that salvation is available only by the shed blood of Jesus. We know that in Christ we have the promise of a resurrection and eternal hope.

What Scripture is less clear on is how one is called into fully dedicated all-in ministry roles. We certainly see in Scripture that the Lord called out specific people for specific tasks. Think of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, the twelve disciples, Paul, Barnabas, and Peter to name a few.

But consider each of their circumstances. They were all different. Abraham was told to look at the stars and given a promise and a direction. Moses had a burning bush experience. David was anointed as a shepherd boy years before he would take the throne. The disciples were so immediately compelled that they left all they had. Paul was blinded and had a personal interaction with Jesus. Timothy was recognized by others and commissioned by a council of elders as they laid hands on him.

A glance at the New Testament reveals that of the 11 times calling (klesis) is used, most of them deal with the eternal calling every believer has in Christ. And then you have Romans 11:29 – “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” Maybe a nod toward vocational calling, maybe not. I can tell you that Romans 11:29 was used as a specific encouragement toward me following a call to build the kingdom full-time.

Scott Pace and Shane Pruitt’s little book Calling Out the Called is instructive here. They cite Charles Spurgeon as providing four helpful ways to identify a call to ministry. They are:

1. Overwhelming Desire
2. Ministry Gifts
3. God’s Blessing
4. Affirmation of Others

So, it’s one thing to ask a candidate how he experienced a calling. Maybe it was on his Damascus Road. Maybe it was years of prayer and consideration. Maybe it was through a sermon, a book, or a particular passage of study. Perhaps the influence of others led him there. That’s good to know.

But the task of the interviewer is to dig deeper. Does he love ministry and particularly the ministry for which he is interviewing? Do her gifts reveal that she is suited for ministry in general and a particular ministry? Has God put his hand of blessing on her previous work? In what way? And do others have the sense that she is effective as a ministry leader?

Often the simple application to a ministry role is a huge sign of one’s calling. But it’s not surefire. When interviewing a candidate, not asking about their calling is equivalent to buying a used car without cranking the engine. It’s just not wise to make assumptions and skip a step that teaches you a great deal about a candidate.