Answering the Call: A Preacher Speaks of Answering the Call of the Lord to Preach

I have always heard Preachers say they have "Answered the Call". This means a call from God telling them to preach. It's always fascinated me, that they feel God asking them to preach his words. So I decided to ask one what it's like to hear and answer the call.

I know Aaron from playing a game he designed. Yes this preacher designs onlinegames and websites. I played his game Conquest for several years. In time I became a moderator on his forums. I knew he didn't allow cursing, but I had no idea he was a preacher for several years.

Aaron Freeman is an Ordained Baptist Minister from Powhatan Virginia. His Wife Melissa and he have 3 children. Braden, August, and Adeleine , who are home schooled by Mrs. Freeman.

Aaron not only answered the call to preach. He feels he has been called to be a missionary in Texas. He and his family intend to start Baptist Churches in Starr County Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. He intends to bring the Gospel to Mexican and Mexican Americans in the area.

He is visiting many churches in several states telling his story. You can read more of the details at his website. He has a Deputation Schedule there with where he will be speaking. I urge you to try to get out and meet him if he is in your area. He has been nice enough to answer a few questions, about Religion, God and his Ministry.

RI- How strongly did you feel the call to preach? And did you resist it at first?

AF- Looking back I can see that I began to feel the call to preach years before I ever truly realized it. However, I became aware of God's calling in March of 2002 and surrendered almost immediately. The subject of being "called to preach" is one that is very interesting to me. In reality, as Christians we are all called to preach. For clarity, I'd substitute the word "witness" for "preach". The Bible is clear in verses such as Acts 1:8 that we are all to go and tell the world. This is accomplished in two ways. First, we go where we are. That is where we witness to those that we come into contact with on a daily basis. Again, this is done by each and every believer. Second, we go where we aren't. This is done through the financial and prayer support of missionaries. And, again, this is done by each and every believer. The wording of this verse is important. YE shall be witnesses unto me BOTH in...... The ye is clearly speaking to the reader, which is every Christian, and it says we are to be witness in both places (all places). This is part of my conviction as to my calling. Obviously though some people do surrender their lives to full-time Christian service as a pastor or missionary. I believe this is a burden that we have and the Lord allows us to fulfill. Does this burden come from the Lord or from us? I believe it comes more from within us. Again, the Bible is clear that if anyone desires the office of bishop (pastor), etc, that he desires a good work. That does not lend itself to an interpretation that the burden is from God. Also, the Lord would never force anyone to want to serve Him. I believe that as we mature spiritually and desire to serve the Lord in this capacity, that He sometimes allows us to do so.

Now, to directly answer your question, when I finally felt the "call", I felt it very strongly. I was convinced that this is what I should be doing with my life. I was attending a conference at the time and waited to get back to my home and discuss the matter with my wife, pastor and other strong believers at my church before finally surrendering my life to this service, but in my own heart I was already surrendered to do His will. The verification was simply that this was indeed something that they felt God would have me and my family to do as well. That said, you could say that I resisted at first, because for years I had been watching missionaries come through the church doors and always felt that "it would be great to be able to do that." In a way I never stopped to consider that God may use me in that capacity, but in a way I believe I was also tied up in achieving my personal career goals. Once God allowed those to be removed from my life it was much easier to accept His will

RI- What moved you to want to preach to Mexican/Americans in Texas? That's a long way from Small Town Virginia.

AF-When I surrendered to the ministry I felt that God was going to use me to reach the youth, primarily because I didn't feel that I was prepared to lead a church as a senior pastor. As I went through Bible college I became aware that I also had the capacity to actually be the senior pastor of a church. I also was convinced that God did not want me to be a bi-vocational minister. I believed I was called to full-time service, and I had surrendered myself to that end. However, in my flesh I had made an agreement with my local church that I would stay there on staff working part-time, as long as they could keep me, with the understanding that I would become a full-time staff member as the church grew. Looking back I believe that was an unwise decision on my part, that was made contrary to how the Lord was working with me. However, He is faithful and eventually he allowed that position to no longer be available, as the financial condition of our church did not allow for my salary to continue to be supported. When I accepted that this was not where God wanted me, and again surrendered to go and be a full-time pastor, God allowed the financial condition of our church to improve. He is certainly faithful.

As I began to look at opportunities we were drawn initially to the American southwest, and especially to Texas. We had a general interest in the area and certainly wanted to see if the Lord would allow us to work there in some capacity. However, we did also look other places, as we did not want this to be a decision based on our desires, but instead on the leading of the Holy Spirit. As I considered possibilities I became aware of one startling fact. Though there were a number of Independent Baptist churches in central and northern Texas, I was having difficulty finding them in Southern Texas. As I looked further I became aware that I wasn't finding them because they weren't there. The more I looked, the worse the situation appeared, and the more the Lord was burdening me for this area. He finally had to remind me that though it was true that I was trained and qualified to go and pastor an existing church, I was also trained and qualified to establish a new church. I felt that I was again taking the easy road out by not considering missionary work. As we prayed about this we became convinced that this was where God wanted us to serve Him.

It seems odd that God would use a white, English-speaking man, born in the north but raised in the south to reach Hispanic, Spanish-speaking people in Texas. It defies reason. But, this is the same God who used Paul, a devout Jew, to reach the Gentile world. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts!

RI- Ok what exactly are Independent Baptist churches? I go to a Baptist Church (not often enough) but I have no idea if it's Independent or not.

AF- An Independent Baptist church is one that is not under the authority of another church. Biblically all churches are to be autonomous, that is, self-governing. That is one of the reasons why we do not support the Southern Baptist Convention. In that convention each individual church is governed by the national convention, and their doctrinal positions are set by that convention. This breaks the Biblical model. The only "exception", for lack of a better word, is "daughter" churches. From time-to-time churches will start a new church nearby and until those churches are established the are run by the "mother" church. However, as quickly as possible those churches must become self-governing.

RI- If an atheist or agnostic wanted to learn about God and would read just one book of the bible, what would you recommend, they read? and why.

AF- Romans. It is the easiest place in the Bible to read the plan of salvation and understand it.

RI- What do you think Heaven is like from reading the Bible and your own thoughts about it?

AF- I'm not going to get into a deep theological discussion of heaven today. First, because it is not overly important. Second, because it is a vast discussion. First, I must define "heaven". For the purposes of this question I'm going to assign it as our future eternal abode. This differentiates it from the current dwelling place of God and from the millennial kingdom. The Bible is clear that after the millennial kingdom this earth and the heavens (space) will be destroyed and that a new heaven and a new earth will be created. That is the heaven I am referring to. This is a perfect place, ruled by God almighty. It will be indwelled only be believers and their will be absolutely no sin, no pain and no dying, as well as no births. We will be in our glorified bodies, which will have no need of food and will be able to walk through solid materials (just as Jesus did when He reappeared on the earth after His death). This heaven will be absolutely beautiful and built of all styles of precious stones. The exact size of heaven is up for debate, as is it's dimensions and construction style. To me this is irrelevant. I have faith that God will make it large enough for everyone that will be there and that it will be perfect, as He is perfect. There are many things that my simple human mind is incapable of understanding, and therefore I accept by faith those things that I cannot comprehend. Without getting into a deeper theological argument, we do that all the time on non-religious matters already! So, in general, heaven is a beautiful, perfect place where we will spend all of eternity serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ok for the last question and thanks very much for taking time for this interview. Is there anything you would like to tell the readers? About your Ministry, or about Christianity in general?

AF- There are so many things I could say, but for brevity's sake I will limit it to a piece of wise advice I received. When I was being ordained into the ministry one of the preachers reminded me that I needed to know why I believed what I believed. It's very easy to just "always" believe something, but is harder to understand why I believe that way. I have taken that to heart and work diligently now to understand the Biblical basis behind why I take a position. In some instances this has caused me to alter my views on a subject, which I believe is a good thing. Though I don't want to be "blown about with every wind of doctrine", I do realize that I am fallible and I can and probably do make a lot of mistakes. The second part of this, which this preacher did not state but which I feel strongly, is that once you determine what you believe, you must believe it. Too many people say they believe something but are willing to accept others contradictory views. If you really believe something you will never do this. I have a basic respect for many other religions because of their zealousness. I still believe they are teaching lies and false doctrines, but at least they show true faith. Far too many Christians have the truth and don't ever apply it to their lives, and are willing to accept the differences of others as an "alternative" opinion. Many would call me "narrow-minded". I would call it common-sense. Again, if you truly believe something you won't accept a contradictory view. We do this in many other parts of our lives but are afraid to do it where religion is concerned out of a fear of offending. I believe God is honored only as we "stick with the stuff" and refuse to be swayed by the popular opinions of the world around us.

There you have the story of one man Answering The Call. I would once again like to thank Reverend Freeman for taking the time to do this interview. And I would like to thank you all for reading this on Associatedcontent.com.