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Marked by the Call

Dave Ens

“The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to fulfill”, especially when it comes to that nebulous thing, The Call. The Call in a person’s life is a difficult thing to pin down. Some argue there is no such thing as a formal call, and that Christians are called to live for God wherever they find themselves. But I can say with confidence that my 30 years have been marked by the Call of God.

This summons me to a specific place in the world and in the Kingdom of God. Up until eight years ago, I had decided that my post-secondary schooling would take me to law school. My desire was to be a lawyer. I felt this was a noble aim as I would do what I could to provide a Christian presence in the legal community.

I enrolled in the political science program at university. At the same time, I registered in the Bible college affiliated with the university. This way, I could get my bachelor of religious studies along with my political science degree. I was sure I could do well on the LSAT and thrive in the legal environment. It was in Bible college, however, that the Call of God came into my life in a major way.

I had always been encouraged by family and mentors to go into ministry. They felt I had the gifts that suited that vocation. However, my insistence and pursuit of law school deafened me to their comments, and I chose not to pursue the matter further. My faith was a big part of me, and I had no intention of turning my back on it. That is why when a Christian lawyer came to college to speak in chapel, I was very interested and made sure not miss his talk.

God did not want me to miss that talk either. I can distinctly remember everything in the room as I listened intently to this criminal lawyer speak about his profession. I sat with a furrowed brow, not quite sure what to make of the words I was hearing. The issue that intrigued and puzzled me the most was his description of defending someone who is guilty of a crime and attempting to get an acquittal for that person. The speaker felt that it was within his professional licence to defend guilty clients.

It was then I felt “apprehended” by the Call of God. My mind whirled as I tried to make sense of the issue. No matter which way I turned or twisted it, it always came out feeling like a compromise of my faith. I could not do that. My life fell into a void; I felt I was plummeting to nowhere. I knew that I could not pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. At that moment there was nowhere else to go. I had lost direction in life.

I went through many internal struggles at this time. The quandary over career direction was a big one. I no longer considered it a coincidence that just as I was struggling to find direction for the future, I received a call from a small church inviting me to be a pastoral intern for the summer. I accepted. I also had an opportunity to preach in my home church. Out of the woodwork came people who encouraged and empowered me for the pastorate, saying, “I always knew you would be a pastor” and “We prayed that you would go in this direction.”

Today, I find myself in the pastorate for the second time – this time as senior pastor of a congregation in Brandon, Man. The Call to come to Brandon was unmistakable in the life of our family. We found ourselves with little choice but to say yes.

However, the Call of God does not ensure a life of ease and conflict-free existence. But knowing this is the Call in my life keeps me going when times look dark. Despite any circumstance I find myself in, knowing I am in the will of God gives me hope, joy and contentment that He will provide.

I still contend we need Christian lawyers, but I am thankful that God apprehended me and turned me in the direction He wanted me to go.

Dave Ens is senior pastor of Richmond Park MB Church in Brandon, Man.

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Last modified October 10, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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