Book Recommendation: "Am I Called?" by Dave Harvey

"Only 10% of pastors stay in ministry until the age of 65!" Dave Harvey stated in his book, Am I Called? The Summons to Pastoral Ministry. This book was written in 2012 for those wondering whether they are called to full-time ministry, especially pastoral ministry. The foreword to this book was written by Matt Chandler. It was published by Crossway in Wheaton, IL. I would like to share a personal poem by Andrew Hawkins with you. It is entitled "Be All In!"

Be All In

You need to be all in.

Do not hide your sin.

We do not hide it in a tin.

Be all in.

Be all in for Christ.

Lift up your wrist.

Do not listen to Satan.

Do not get a spiritual tan.

God desires your heart.

You are a work of art.

God is great.

We can eat.

Eat spiritual food.

God is so, so good.

Be all in for Christ.

Lift up your wrist.

Lift them up for Christ.

God loves us.

Do not quit following Christ.

Be All In.

This poem means that we need to be all in, and that was the message of Dave Harvey's book, Am I Called? How many of us wonder if we are truly called and being all in to serve Christ? How many of us get burned out and leave ministry? How often do we wonder if we are truly called by God to live a sacrificial lifestyle in ministry? How often do we lead our families well? How often do we hang up the towel of ministry too quickly? How often do we pray to God to reveal His calling on our lives? How do we balance ministry and family life well? You came to the right place. Am I Called? by Dave Harvey answers all your questions and worries about going into full-time ministry.

This book is divided into three parts. The first part is entitled "Approaching the Call." The second part is entitled "Diagnosing the Call." The third part is entitled "Waiting." These parts are imperative to understanding the reason why we are called.

In the first part, "Approaching the Call," we see the truth that God equips the called. Dave Harvey writes, "God isn't haphazard in whom he calls or what he calls a man to do." This is so true. Recently, I have been called to serve as a ministry coordinator for the Kansas chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship. This is not an easy calling. It takes prayer-based living. I never imagined this. However, God equips the called as we approach the calling He wants us to do. He doesn't allow us to do it alone. How often do we feel alone as we approach our calling? For so long, I felt like I had to do this alone. When all along I had men and women of faith come alongside me and prepare me to do this. I am not alone in approaching this calling.

This book was a Godsend in my life. "Before he calls us to ministry, He calls us to himself" (Dave Harvey, page 36). He wants us to be followers of Christ. You cannot be spiritually dead to preach to the spiritually dead. You have to be spiritually alive and have the Holy Spirit coursing through your veins to preach. He states, "Through the cross, the Caller restores the lines of communication and fellowship that had been severed by sin" (Dave Harvey, page 37). Have you dealt with your secret sin before starting the journey of being involved in any sort of ministry? Have you dealt with your family? Have you managed your family well? According to Dave Harvey, "The Gospel is the instrument of our call" (Dave Harvey, page 37).

We need to understand the Gospel before we can live a life of ministry. He states this profound truth, "The Gospel--the good news of Jesus Christ--is the instrument by which God issues his effective call to us and brings us into new life and union with Christ by Grace (Eph. 2:5)." (Dave Harvey, page 37). The Gospel is imperative. If you are a pastor and do not know the Gospel. It is time to make Christ the center of your life. The Gospel is the forefront of being summoned to full-time ministry.

In the next part, "Diagnosing the Call," he analyzes profound questions: "Are you godly?" How's your home? Can you preach? Can you shepherd? Do you love the lost? Who agrees? This next part spoke volumes to me. Are you godly? Wow, that is a groundshaking question. Am I living a life of complete surrender to Christ, or am I holding on to some of my past sins and not surrendering my life to Christ? I am living a life of complete surrender to Christ. I am living a prayer-based lifestyle. It is not easy to be summoned to full-time ministry. It is hard and takes a lot of prayer-based living. You have to be in communion with Christ daily. You cannot do it alone. Hebrews 13:5a states, "Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you." He will not leave you alone as you are pursuing the full-time ministry. He will be with you every step of the way. On page 84 of the book, Am I Called?, Harvey lists some ways that men are summoned.

• "The summoned man works where there is need, not just where he can express his gifts.

• The summoned man works to make those above him a success, not to develop his own success.

• The summoned man is just as happy to use service to address his weaknesses as to hone his strengths.

• The summoned man seeks to make the work of those around him a joy.

• The summoned man uses his influence to promote the Church's good, not his own advancement.

• The summoned man works with excellence, diligence, and faithfulness for the attention of Christ, not others.

• The summoned man walks boldly on the path of sacrifice and treads cautiously on the path of promotion.

• The summoned man joyfully steps back in order to let another man step forward."

These are the things that show that the man is summoned. Are we living like this as people who pursue ministry?

Then, in the final section, it discusses waiting. I waited 15 years to get into full-time ministry. As we are waiting, God prepares us for the ministry role. Now, I am the Child Evangelism Fellowship Ministry Coordinator for the State of Kansas. I partner with churches and public schools to oversee existing after-school Bible clubs and establish new Good News clubs in public schools.

If you appreciate my posts and want to support my new ministry role, I invite you to join my monthly prayer and financial support team. Your support—whether through prayer, a monthly donation, or a one-time gift—makes a vital difference. Please follow these simple steps:

1) Visit www.cefofkansas.com

2) Click on the "Donate" tab and select "State director and staff fund."

3) In the comments, write "This is for Andrew Hawkins."

4) Email love4friends316@gmail.com to confirm your donation and let me know your preference.

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Please consider partnering with me today—your support transforms lives and advances God's kingdom.