Called to Ministry Retreat encourages young leaders to listen to God’s voice, rely on each other in ministry

David Rangel, high school student from Alamo Heights Baptist Church in San Antonio, said he learned that “God can use anyone, no matter their age,” when he attended the first Called to Ministry Retreat, hosted by the Texas Baptists Office of Theological Education and Institutional Engagement.

“I have recently been sensing a possible call to ministry, and I felt attending this conference would help me understand personally what all that means, and what I need to be doing spiritually and practically to prepare myself for [the] call,” said Rangel. “Most of our conference leaders shared their personal call-to-ministry stories, and most sensed the call as young people, which was very inspiring to me.”

Dec. 5-6, more than 80 students, pastors and church leaders attended the retreat at Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. The retreat, “primarily for young leaders, 16 to 25, who sense or have a call to ministry leadership,” focused on the theme passage, 1 Samuel 3:1-10. Attendees heard from three keynote speakers, a panel and received “training on how to grow and take steps forward in their calling.”

Pastors and church leaders had the opportunity to attend two workshops led by Victor Rodriguez, director of Hispanic Evangelism at Texas Baptists, and Jesse Rincones, pastor of Alliance Church in Lubbock, who discussed, “What do I do with those that are called?” and “The role of the church in the ‘calling’ process.” 

Youth and young adults also had the opportunity to attend two workshops led by Raúl Balandrano, youth coordinator at Valley Baptist Missions Education Center in Harlingen, Irene Gallegos, director of Hunger and Care Ministries, Christian Life Commission at Texas Baptists, and Vidal Muñiz, Texas Baptists en Español specialist, who discussed, “How do I know that I am called? What should I do now?” and “What is my role in the Kingdom of God?” 

Referencing 1 Samuel 3:8-10, Gabriel Cortés, director of Hispanic Education for Theological Education & Institutional Engagement at Texas Baptists, said “it is key” that pastors and church leaders recognize “how important their role is in helping people in their church discern that it is God who’s calling them” and “provide mentorship, coaching, service opportunities to help them grow and become who God wants them to become.” 

“I would love for our churches to develop a culture of calling and call people out who may be called to ministry and walk with them through the process. That's the main reason I'm excited about [hosting the Called to Ministry Retreat],” said Cortés. 

“Do not let the light turn off” 

Rodriguez kicked off the retreat with a message titled, “What Does it Mean to be Called? (Going Back to Where it Started).” Referencing 1 Corinthians 7:17 and Isaiah 6:8, he told attendees that “calling is a word that means summoned.”

“Calling, defined simply, means what he summoned. God has summoned you to do something in your life,” said Rodriguez. “God has assigned a purpose, a plan for your life. We were not just born in this world to exist. God has assigned you with a plan.” 

He gave attendees four words to help them understand their “Call,” chaos, assessment, love and lamp. 

“It doesn't matter how chaotic this world gets… God is not afraid of what is going on. God is forever on his throne. God is still in control,” said Rodriguez. 

He said after seeing chaos, we see our calling through assessment. 

“You realize that the closer you get to God, the more you see who you are,” said Rodriguez. “The Bible is not a window; it is a mirror. The more we read it, the more we see ourselves in it… When God calls you, it is not about you, it's about him, always.” 

After the assessment, Rodriguez said we see our calling with love. 

“Out of all [the chaos], God is concerned about, ‘Who will I send to the lost?’ That's love,” said Rodriguez. “God is concerned about people today; that's why he continues to call people today.” 

Lastly, Rodriguez said the last word to help understand their call is “lamp.” 

“[God] keeps calling people to his ministry because the light must continue to shine in this world, and this dark world, God is saying, ‘Do not let the light turn off. Keep it going,’” said Rodriguez. 

He challenged attendees to “embrace the calling because a light should never go out in God's temple, ever.”

“The church is here to stay. The light will never go out because God is light. He will provide the oil. He will provide the people. He will provide the called ones… When God calls you, he is handing over the baton of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Rodriguez. 

Following Rodriguez, a panel featuring himself, Balandrano, Gallegos, Muñiz and Rincones, discussed calling and answered attendees’ questions about leadership in ministry.

Surrendered to God spiritually, physically, emotionally, relationally

Bobby Contreras, pastor of Alamo Heights Baptist Church in San Antonio, kicked off day two with a message titled, “Guarding Your Call (Spiritual Formation for the Called).” Referencing 1 Timothy 4, he told attendees that what shapes us spiritually is being surrendered to God.  

“We need to continue to have moments where we are fanning into flame the reminder of a growing faith and a strong calling from our God… The most important thing about our calling is that God is driving it,” said Contreras. 

Contreras encouraged attendees to guard their health spiritually, physically, emotionally and relationally to persevere in their calling.

“[Being] called to ministry means God has a plan for each and every one of you for your whole life, [so] the things you do now matter for later,” said Contreras. “The things we say to ourselves in our minds take life away from us… [so] the way that we [endure] our call to ministry is relying on each other, on whoever God gives us in whatever season.” 

He challenged attendees to “tell someone today… about what God is stirring in your heart” to be accountable to their calling. 

“Would you continue to dream big dreams as it pertains to your calling, but don’t forget to tell someone because if we don’t tell someone, we won’t do anything with it,” said Contreras. 

“Stay close to God's voice” to go the distance

Rincones concluded the retreat by sharing a message titled, "Going the Distance in Your Calling.” Referencing 1 Samuel 3, he told attendees that “When you call Jesus, Lord, you have given God the authority to change your plans.”

“Every story of calling begins with a divine interruption. Maybe you weren’t expecting it, and maybe you weren't necessarily praying for it. Maybe you weren't even ready. But it was that moment when God whispered, or God nudged, and… something stirred inside of you,” said Rincones. “God confirms our calling through things we don't see coming.” 

Rincones said, ”Going the distance matters because calling is not a moment. Calling is a marathon.” He said throughout our calling, we have to train ourselves to be “continually listening for the voice of God.”

“God begins the work. God sustains the work. God corrects the work, and God finishes the work,” said Rincones. “When we're not familiar with God's voice, we think it's somebody else's.” 

He gave attendees three encouragements to help them “go the distance:” stay close to God's voice, stay connected to God's people and stay committed to God's assignment.

“Remember, God called you. God keeps you, and God finishes what he started in you,” said Rincones. “Today, maybe God's calling you to ministry or to missions or to preaching or to service. But we know for sure he's calling all of us to obedience and to surrender.”

Attendee Caleb Salazar from Primera Iglesia Bautista in Belton said he was impacted by Rincones’ encouragement to “stay close to God’s voice.” 

“[When you] hear all the other ideas when you’re doing ministry and [about] other jobs outside of [ministry], you have to keep your eyes focused on him and be in the Word to know what is coming from God,” said Salazar.

“He always equips us properly” 

Victoria Menjivar, attendee from Iglesia Bautista Principe de Paz in Austin, said she has been “serving in ministry for almost four years now” and upon hearing about the retreat, “instantly knew I wanted to attend.” 

“I have been to different camps and conferences hosted by Texas Baptists throughout my youth and have always been greatly blessed by them,” said Menjivar. 

“My biggest takeaway from the conference was that while God calls us to different ministries and gives us different talents, He always equips us properly. He gives us his word, he speaks to us and gives us fellow believers to help guide us and lift each other up,” said Menjivar.

Six Texas Baptists institutions were in attendance, including BUA, Stark College & Seminary, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, Houston Christian University and Truett Seminary. Twenty churches were also represented, with 24 church pastors and leaders in attendance and 20 youth and young adults. 

To learn more about the Texas Baptists Office of Theological Education & Institutional Engagement, visit txb.org/theologicaleducation.