"They Knew"
I was one of those persons who grew up in the church under the guidance of my grandmother. I attended Sunday school and worship each week and was very involved in the youth group. Growing up in a small rural church everyone knew each other and it gave much opportunity for me to be involved in many ways in the life of the church. During that involvement in my youth years persons would say to me, “You should be a minister.” I of course would simply nod my head to notify I heard them and go on my way.
After high school graduation I went to broadcasting school and worked in an office supply store for 1½ years before deciding to attend college to become a teacher. I felt God was calling me to be a teacher of young children and received my K-8 teaching certification. During all this time persons continued to urge me to think about becoming a minister. It was in the midst of college, on an evening walk to get away from some stress, God spoke very loudly and clearly to me that I was being called to ministry. There was no hesitation. I said yes that evening and never looked back.
I began my preparation for ministry while completing my college education. I took a position as a part-time director of youth ministry in a local church near the college. I became a licensed local pastor and took my first appointment at a small rural church near college between my junior and senior year of college. Even though I was doing my student teaching and serving as the head resident of a dormitory on campus along with serving the church it was an exciting time and both the people of the church and the college were supportive and encouraging of my journey.
I continued in that small rural church as I traveled 156 miles (one way) to and from seminary for the next three years. It continued to be an exciting time in ministry as the church grew and reached out to the community.
Each of my ministry appointments have taken me to places I would never have dreamed going as a rural country farm boy. Each appointment has been exciting and I have never regretted God’s call on my life to be in ministry. Those loving persons who surrounded me and encouraged me from the beginning and all along the way were correct and I’m thankful God kept using them to urge me in the direction God wanted for my life.
Rev. Paul White, director of Council on Ministries, East Ohio Conference
