Students and others have asked me how I felt God's leadership to being a College Minister. Sometimes, it is in their own search for God's direction for their life and looking for clues. Other times, it is just an interest in how God has worked in someone else's life.
When I was in high school, I thought the purpose of school was so I could play football and basketball, but I was also trying to be serious about being a Christian. As I saw and experienced the strong influence that Coaches had on guys, I thought maybe God wanted me to be a basketball coach and began to move that direction.
I was not good enough to play in college, but became acquainted with the basketball coach at Southern Baptist College. His wife was my church's part time Music Minister. He asked me, if I would like to work for him. So, I became the Manager, ankle taper, score book keeper, later the public address announcer, and one who sometimes pulled him back onto the bench when he was out of control. But, in that experience, which I enjoyed, I just didn't sense that was my future. I was very involved in the BCM and then was asked to be President of the BSU my sophomore year (It was a junior college).
When I was finishing those two years, the State wide BSU Director for Arkansas asked me to go to a four year school where they had just been given a house located by the campus. His thought was that I would live in the house, use it as a BSU Center, go to school, and be the part time BSU Director. I just did not sense that was right and the thing for me to do.
I transferred to Arkansas State University and part of the reason for that was its reputation for having a strong BSU program. My senior year, I was selected as BSU president. As I was getting ready to graduate, the State wide BSU Director asked me to go to Southern Arkansas University for one year as the Interim BSU Director, as that position had just been vacated. At that point, the Vietnam war was at full tilt and I was not ordained, so I would be immediately drafted and not be able to fulfill that year commitment.
I went home to Piggott to teach Speech and Drama in high school and after one semester was the first teacher in Arkansas to be drafted. Sue and I had just been married a month when I got my draft notice. In Basic Training I was selected to attend Advanced Training to be a Chaplain's Assistant. After finishing that training following Basic, I received orders for Vietnam.
While I was in Vietnam, I got a letter from the State BSU Director in Arkansas asking me to consider going to Arkansas State University to be the full time, permanent BSU Director. I responded that I had almost a year left in Vietnam and could not accept.
Toward the end of my time in Vietnam, I received a letter from the State BSU Director for Arkansas saying that they had moved the BSU Director at Henderson State University to Arkansas State and would I be interested in going to Henderson. I responded with an enthusiastic YES! I had never been to or seen Henderson, as I have told people, but thought I would like it better than Vietnam. And, this fit with the direction I was sensing in my life.
One of the ways I believe God speaks to us and leads us is OPPORTUNITIES. A second way God speaks to us is through what gives us SATISFACTION in doing. Nothing had helped me grow more or have more joy in doing than my involvement with BSU at Southern Baptist College and Arkansas State University.....not to mention the opportunities that kept coming my way.
After 9 years at Henderson State, I was asked to go to Arkansas State. I went there with the idea of being there about five years and doing what I thought was next in my life. When that opportunity came, I sensed through quite a bit of wrestling, that it was God's plan for me to stay at Arkansas State. In working out the decision whether to accept that opportunity that I had looked to or stay at ASU, I talked with many people I respected and trusted. Mostly, they said I could not turn down that opportunity. They told me of lots of "opportunities" that would come as a part of this new job. Yet, even though that was what I thought would be next in my life and the advice of many spiritual leaders, I decided I was to be at ASU.
All the reasons and "opportunities" that people used to tell me I needed to take that job and leave ASU came to me during my time at Arkansas State. God knew where I was.
I believe strongly in "God's Timing". I was not ready for the Arkansas State job the first time it was offered to me. It would have eaten me alive and possibly run me out of ministry. Henderson was a wonderful time of growth and encouragement for me. God blessed Sue and me with great friends and wonderful students. Plus, our family began to grow. People told me I was making a mistake leaving Henderson and going to ASU. We had a great time at Henderson and it had been perfect for our new young family. But, I sensed going to ASU was right......even though it was very painful the first couple of years. I have told people and they have thought I was joking that my first year at ASU was harder emotionally than my year in Vietnam.
So, we went from my thinking we would be at ASU for five years to being there for thirty two years. That was God's plan.
What is your story of God's calling and leadership in your life?
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