A Piercing Call to Ministry
In 1965, when I was 13, I was sitting in worship at Calvary E.U.B. Church in Akron. I was in the pew with my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. During the sermon, I was minding my own business, when something Rev. Bob Hahn said pierced me. He asked those whom the Lord had called to ministry to come to the altar. For me, it was a God-experience. I had never experienced anything as intense and true in my life. I knew that Jesus meant for me to come.
I tried to put the brakes on: “Lord, my family won’t understand.” (Afterwards, I was sure that they didn’t.) “Lord, everyone will think I’m weird.” (Afterwards, I was sure that they did.) “Lord, I don’t want to go.”
Unfortunately, by this time, I was no longer sitting in the family pew. I was down in front of the congregation, standing at the altar. The best thing to do seemed to be to kneel down out of everyone’s sight.
Years later, at Annual Conference, Bishop Thomas spoke about his call to ministry and brought to mind the powerful experience I had that day. He said, “I have never regretted responding to that call to ministry. God has been faithful to me and I have done my best to be faithful to God.”
Being a pastor has not always been smooth sailing. Difficult times, conflicts, disappointments, all come with the territory. But something was sealed in my heart that day at the altar. It was not only that Jesus was calling me to ministry. He made that part of who I was. He set the direction of my life. I’ve never regretted it.
Rev. Bob Kuntz, Good Shepherd UMC, North Coast District
