Tomorrow, classes start for my first semester at Asbury Seminary in Wilmore, KY. This marks yet another part of the journey toward changing my career from corporate work to pastoral ministry. I have doubts and fears about the financial, emotional, physical, mental and spiritual strain this will put on me and my wife. Yet, I know I am on the right path.

Twelve years ago, my life fell apart. I went through a divorce, resigned from my dream job and had to move in with my mother, far away from my children. I was broken and hopeless. As I turned my heart and life back to God, my life started to turn around. God has restored and renewed me in so many ways, including a wonderful job and a wife, who is ready to go wherever God takes us. Now, I know it is time to move forward and live out the rest of my life in a calling to which I was called as a child.

The day I was to travel to Wilmore for new student orientation, I had a family emergency. I almost cancelled my trip, but I knew I had to go. If I had not gone, I would have missed out on so many blessings. I made new friends, learned new information, worshipped with other students and at the end, was blessed with an extra night’s stay that allowed me to rest before the long drive home.

While I know there will be trials ahead and moments when I will feel like giving up, I know that I will complete my M.Div. and I will get ordained. May God help all of us move forward to pursue our dreams and callings.