My Call pt. 4 "The Final Frontier?"

I never once dreamed that my sharing about my call into ministry would have brought me this far, part four to be exact; but it has also allowed me to share with you some of the more detailed and intimate side of who I am.

Those of you who know me, may see me as being very outgoing and sociable; but it wasn't always that way. I am very shy by nature and chose, rather ran into my shell because of what others have said about me either to my face or behind my back.

Words are very powerful in the arena of life. They can make or break you. Bring life or destroy life. I have always wanted the sense of belonging to something or someone. I mean, wanting to feel like I'm a part of something.

I can remember kids my own age at Bible School and how they acted, I sorta wondered why they were even there. Was it mommy and daddy that sent them? Was it the Lord? I hate to judge and this rant sounds like I am, but the call of God is a serious thing and that call carries with it a heavy responsibility. God is love!! God lives in us!! Love(God) is in us!!.........Without love, we are nothing but a bunch of noise.

Anyways, I came back to Rhema for my second year a different person. I came determined that I was going to be a friend, an ally, someone that could be trusted. After seeing how people acted, I wanted God to shine in me. I wanted His love to radiate from me to others. Slowly, my shyness started to melt.

Really, it took the combined effort of many people to bring out the best in me. They took me out of my comfort zone and taught me how to be the man of God I am today. I am by no means perfect, just crowned with dignity and worth. Just blessed and highly favored.

Second year at Rhema was a blast. I entered into it knowing what I was to do which was to be an Evangelist. How bout that, a shy kid called to Evangelize? School was easy for me because I was determined to learn all I could and put it into practice.

I was in the Evangelist group and not long after registration, God began to stoke the fire. I was sold out on God and I was ready to begin the path He had for me. As I mentioned previously, I got to know many well-known ministers and something I would do would do is when I had the chance, I'd ask questions. Questions about their call, how they prepare to minister, things like that. I wanted to know what I was getting into.

Something that has stuck with me is what Rod Parsley shared. I asked him, "What do you do the day your to preach? How do you prepare?" His answer rang in me and has brought many victories in my life. He said, "I get alone and just fellowship with my Father." It's that personal fellowship with Father God that will calm any internal storm and release that burden-removing, yoke-destroying power that abides in you.

Something I did regularly was to go to Rhema's park at night just to pray. I'd walk around the entire campus praying either in English or Tongues just to quiet my mind and get revelation. What I'm doing now was prayed out during those walks and things I haven't even entered into was prayed there as well. I called this my Gethsemane experience because it was just me and the Lord, no-one else.

During Second year I made it a priority to get to know the some of the First year students, just to prepare them for what to expect and to help out if needed. One instance that comes to mind is when my neighbor was having problems with his roommate. They lived in a 1/1 (one bedroom/one bath) apartment. Those things offered no privacy and so there was bound to be some problems. I know because I faced that two times. My first roommate kicked me out because I wasn't into the party scene and just having fun I was there to learn, not party. Second roommate fought with me constantly. Come to find out from his friends that he was jealous of me for some reason and just wanted to put me down. This happened during First year so by the time I came back to Second year I had my own place.

Getting back to my neighbor, he came by and asked how to get a stain out of the carpet and so I offered to show him how. When I walked into his apartment, the place was a disaster zone. It was a pig sty and there was food crumbs all over the place, not to mention it looked like 2 pack rats lived there. I asked him about this and that's when he mentioned about having roommate issues.

I shared with him about some of my experiences and advised him to talk to the roommate and settle the matter peacefully. Well that didn't work out too well and after having a meeting with the head of student housing, he was told that he could evict his roommate. The roommate was allowed to stay until the end of the school year. There is more to this, but I'd rather keep you guessing.

Also, because of my love for sports, I made it a priority to attend every home basketball game and travel to some of the away games. B-ball was a lot of fun and I got to spend it with a great friend who I keep in touch with to this day. Really, there was a girl on the team that I liked, but didn't have a chance with. I probably did, but no worries. It's all in the past.

The games brought great stories for me to use when I preach. Some stories have never been told because of things that took place. Plus I don't want to embarrass anybody.

Second year went by fast and so I accomplished a lot in just those nine months. I came out of my shell, made friends, did great in school and accomplished many other things by the grace of God.

I graduated May 18, 2002 with a 3.95gpa which for me was great. I was a C- student in High School. I left Rhema the following morning and never looked back. I miss Rhema to this day and look forward to the day when I can travel to my Spiritual home.

What do I miss most about Rhema, you may ask?

1. That strong corporate anointing
2. The love that permiated the campus
3. Exaltation (Tuesday morn prayer service w/ Miss Lynette Hagin)
4. Hearing Pastor Hagin Preach
5. Mom and Dad Hagin who both went home to be with the Lord
6. Friendships I made.
7. Zio's and China Star Buffet

This list isn't half of what I miss nor is it in any particular order. Rhema molded me into a man with an unshakable confidence in God and it developed a confidence in me that I can do anything with the Lords help.

Well, that about wraps up the story of my calling. I didn't do it justice by sharing all the details or share about what is happening with me to day; but if you just sit tight, maybe I will share with you some of what is happening in my life today.


Love ya,

Josh- Mark 9:23

My Call pt. 2

Last time I blogged, I began to share with you a little about my testimony and how I ended up in ministry. Well, I skipped around a little bit so let me back track somewhat to when my dad and I went to Rhema's "Get Acquainted Weekend." This weekend was during my senior year of high school and I knew I was called but I didn't know how to begin. If you remember I had said as a kid that I wanted to go to Rhema. So here I am a senior in high school and my grades were the pits. I got by with C's, however it wasn't good enough to go to college to become a history teacher so that was out. Well, the Lord reminded me about Rhema and dropped it into my heart about going. So I spoke with my folks about this and we decided that maybe we needed to visit the Rhema to find out more; maybe I would get a leading or a witness about it.

So my dad and I registered to go to the Get Acquainted Weekend. As soon as we landed in Tulsa, I got a witness that I was making a right decision. What that decision was exactly, I didn't know. So here we are in Oklahoma, a place I knew not. In this weekend I was able to attend 3 classes as well as meet the Hagin's and as well as attend other functions. Sitting in the classes, the Lord began to speak to me again and I knew that Rhema was the place for me. It seemed that way because the favor of God was all over me. God was placing me into situations and opportunities to meet and speak with individuals that normally I wouldn't have had any contact with.

For example while in Tulsa, I attended "The Hour of Healing " that Oral Roberts Ministries televises from the Maybee Center. Dad and I were sitting way in the back when a gentleman motioned to us to follow him. We did and ended up sitting with him on the FRONT ROW. Come to find out, this man was the producer of the program. That night Richard and Lindsay Roberts(hosts) had their board of regents on (School and Ministry Advisors). This included: Creflo Dollar; Jesse and Cathy DuPlantis; Jerry Savelle and Marilyn Hickey. Talk about favor. Sitting within inches of these giants of faith.

At the conclusion of this weekend I told my dad that I felt that I needed to be at Rhema. Well, he still wasn't sure and he wanted to talk to mom about it. Anyways they felt that I wasn't ready and told me to wait a year. I was disappointed, but I waited the one year. In that year I worked and was miserable. I ended up around people and places that were so ungodly that my heart was grieving. I had 3 jobs and no I wasn't fired from any of them. The first one I had was doing construction with my brother. I hated it simply because I did all the back breaking qwork while he stood around smoking doing nothing. I understand that I was the grunt, but he bossed me around. He wasn't even the boss, he thought he was. So I quit, qhy bust your but when you aren't making much and there's no room for promotion. My next job was at a grocery store which wasn't bad, but it robbed me of even attending church, my spirit man suffered because of it.

Just to let you know: construction lasted from June '99-August '99. Grocery Store lasted from August '99- October '99. In the grocery business I hated it because I was paid peanuts while doing the job of the whole store, whenever there was a problem in frozen foods, call dry stock(me). What does dry stock and frozen foods have in common? NOTHING!!! So I left there only making $6.35/hr. I'm not a quitter, I just knew that these two previous jobs where taking me nowhere. Really in my heart I knew the Lord didn't want me at these places. I only was after the money. Yes, I missed it.

Finally I ended up at a place called Interforest which makes veneer for counters and whatnot. I got the job just a few days before my 19th birthday. I was here from November '99-July '00. Interforest wasn't a bad place to work. I got along with my co-workers even though they ribbed me for my faith. I was here for a purpose and I feel that I fulfilled it. I worked in the warehouse doing everything from loading trucks; to working in the showroom as well as working mainly in the warehouse doing other jobs. I started to gain favor with my bosses as well as the big muckety-mucks of the corporation. I did the job to the best of my ability and I was rewarded for it. I received loads of overtime plus many benefits not normally given. This my friend is the favor of God in action. I started at $7.25/hr and finished up making $8.60. Not long after I left, the corporation started to face hard times and of the many factories all over the globe, the one I worked for closed.

While working at Interforest I sent in my application to attend Rhema. All those months of waiting I was nervous and worried that maybe I wouldn't get accepted. One day after coming home from work on a Saturday, mom handed me an envelop from Rhema that was addressed to me. this was in April of 2000. Inside was a letter from the dean informing me that I was accepted. Hallelujah!!! I was on cloud nine after that. So here I am, a 19 year old young man with a call on his life and an acceptance letter to attend the greatest Bible School in the world.

I continued to work and work hard all the way up to my final day. They were sad to see me leave because of the influence and joy that followed me. So I left Interforest just a few weeks before my trek to Oklahoma to go to Bible School.

I wrote enough for one day.....I thought I would have finished!!!! lol....maybe next time