UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Periodically, an endorsed MVM Chaplain will offer articles on a variety of topics, presenting Biblical principles to consider. Look at the Index to see what topics are available.
Index of Topics
The Ministry of the Gospel
The Ministry of the Chaplaincy
Becoming a Minister of the Gospel
Occasionally, I am asked HOW I became an ordained Minister. In my case, it happened much the same as it did for the Apostle Paul when he was in Antioch (Acts 13:1-2). The Bible tells us he (and other godly men) were serving the church in Antioch. He had been serving there for some time, and had demonstrated his testimony of faith in Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit told the church leaders: “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
In my case, my wife and I had been members of Grace Bible Church, in Elkhart, IN, for about four years. In the autumn of 1987, some missionaries from Overseas Christian Servicemen’s Centers, came to our church. In their presentation of their ministry, they mentioned there was a need for missionaries at Alconberry AFB (England) and Grissom AFB (Indiana). As they showed pictures of various ministries to the active duty military, I remembered my own experience in the Navy, and the family who led me to Christ and discipled me.
When the presentation was finished, one of our Deacons came to me and asked: “Well, what is it going to be? Alconberry or Grissom?”
I asked him what he meant, and he replied: “It’s written all over your face. You can sense God calling you to serve in this way.
That began the process of our church acknowledging the calling, the mission board interviewing us as missionaries, and my subsequent ordination by Grace Bible Church. The Bible passage the Lord used to call me is found in Romans 1:14-16: “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Six months later, our church held an ordination council and they recommended I be ordained by the church. That service took place in April 1988.