GOD’S CALL TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

Three ministers refl ect on the joys and challenges that come with a call to preach.

WHEN GOD

SAYS, “NO”

by Jerry Lawson

A

S A CHILD who grew up in a Church of God family, I don’t remember much about life “before Christ.” We always went to church, always prayed, always lived right, and always honored our pastor. I do have a vague memory of my mother leading me in a prayer to accept Christ as we knelt beside the bed of my older sister during evening prayer and devotions. So I guess I owe my soul to my mother and father. And in so many other ways, my life in Christ has its beginnings in them. They taught me to worship, study my Bible, pray, and lead a holy life. While leader- ship and church-growth principles can

be learned from good books, there is no way to put a price tag on learning to live right as a child. I owe it all to my mom and dad.

By the time I was 19 years old, there was another godly woman in my life. Leslie and I were both in college. I was on full scholar- ship, on the Dean’s List, and spending lots of time with the love of my life. Everything should have been perfect. But something was

missing, so I began to pray more. Noth- ing changed, so I went on a fast. Still nothing changed. I decided that maybe God was telling me I was with the wrong girl, so I broke it off with Leslie . . . for all of 10 minutes! Those were the worst 10

minutes of my life. She graciously took me back and eventually became my pre- cious wife.

“Sometimes God has to say ‘no’ to our wishes so He can say ‘yes’ to our destiny.”

—Jerry Lawson

Around seven o’clock on Saturday night, March 8, 1992, I used my key to the University Church of God in Troy, Alabama, to go into the sanctuary and pray. I must have asked God a million ques- tions that night, none of which He answered. But then I lifted my head from the altar and saw my Bible sitting

on the pulpit. That is when God spoke to me. Deep within my spirit I heard God say, “Jerry, you will preach My gospel for the rest of your life.” I immediately answered yes to the call and hurried home to speak to the pastor at my home

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