I serve on the Pittsburgh District Board of Ordained Ministry. This Board is one of the first hurdles that a person seeking to become a pastor in the United Methodist Church has to clear—and a key piece is the person’s conveying their sense of why they are desiring to go into the ministry—that person’s “Call Story”. The Call Story is something that person will need to tell over and over again in the process of seeking ordination, as they will meet not only with the Board that I am a part of, but with their home church’s Council, and at Licensing School (where they’ll earn a License to Preach), and with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. The Call Story includes telling when and how the person became convinced that God was calling—that God told them that they indeed have God’s blessing to pursue becoming an ordained minister. As such, it means telling about encounters, conversations, assurances that came from God.
That’s something that we don’t usually feel comfortable doing. We’re eager to tell someone about a great restaurant, or an enjoyable book or podcast or TV show or movie. But an encounter with God? A spiritual experience? An assurance that came cosmically rather than merely thinking it through? Some way that the Scriptures spoke directly? That is something we are much more shy about saying.
But why? When we are convinced that God has made a difference in our lives, how can we NOT talk about it?
Part of our ministry as a member of the church is that we “witness”—we tell our story of how God has touched our life, and why we live as we do as a follower of Jesus. It may even involve why we are connected with the church we are a part of. And we tell our story not only because it reassures us, but because it may help someone else to get better connected to what God may be doing in their life.
The passage from Luke is one such story. Jesus heals this man who has all sorts of problems that the Scripture tells us is because of a demon. He is homeless, “living” in a burial ground, not even fully clothed much of the time. He is deemed a danger to everyone else such that they tried to keep him guarded and locked up with chains, but he would break the chains. Everyone is afraid of him, but Jesus heals him, and suddenly he isn’t dangerous or violent, but is “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind”. (Luke 8:35b). Jesus says to him, “’Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:39) He actually wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus said “Stay here, and tell your story”. I would imagine that his story gave a lot of hope to a lot of people!
Our own stories may not be that dramatic, but they can certainly help others. Ask anyone you know who is in a 12-step program how much an individual’s story can help other individuals in their own lives! And by the way, if we are hesitant, take strength from Jesus’ words in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The Holy Spirit will be with us too as we witness—as we tell our stories of God in our lives.
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 1:1-8
1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
GOSPEL Luke 8:26-39
26 Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’— 29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.