This is the way it works:
A young person is discipled in the church, catches a passion for God, falls in love with Jesus, wrestles with the angel to discover a faith with integrity, starts using their gifts in the midst of community, and lo and behold is seized by a compelling call to live that out. That is the natural flow of faith, most often surrounded by mentors and fellow pilgrims who encourage and challenge along the way.
Michael Tatum has walked this path at Broadway and is following it far beyond these walls. In a short time, Michael will be entering seminary study at Brite Divinity School in Ft. Worth, Texas. I know that place well, as does Rick Frost and Kim Ryan.
Q: Where do ministers come from?
A: The pews of the church.
It's good to recall that simple fact. The future healthy leadership of the church is directly correlated to the strong and meaningful experience young people have in the church. That is the only reason they would ever want to serve the church in leadership full time. Why else? Surely not for the financial rewards. And unlike in former times not for career that is rewarded by the surrounding culture.
Those who hear a call to ministry-as-vocation come from the ranks of the church itself, no other place. Our ministers-to-be are the children rattling through the church pews today.
So which young person in the church is going to be the next Michael?
