GodReflection: When God Calls
There was no doubt about it. God was on my phone line. He direct dialed me. The plates of my earth seismically quaked. This was a biggie. God showed up with the trumpets, the band and the fireworks to get my attention. There was not a doubt in my mind. God was at the door with my assignment in His hand. Let me set the stage.
In previous posts of this series, I have attempted to lay out my clumsy progression from cradle through college. Those were the years when my task was simply to learn. To learn was to prepare for what we all refer to as life or vocation.
Life is a time when basic preparations are over, and we enter the grownup world to contribute or coast. We join the workforce, or we fail to produce and fall through the cracks as we struggle to exist.
It was my senior year in college. The end of the foundational years of learning and preparation was in sight.
At the university I had purposely enrolled in classes with professors and courses that had earned their deserved tough reputation. My focus was on Biblical studies. Slowly, each requirement for graduation was fulfilled.
My preparation track took me to a Christian Liberal Arts college. From its establishment in 1906 a required daily chapel was woven into the fabric. As you can image the fact that it was daily increased the danger of routine.
Like life, not every day in chapel was a mountain top experience. It was a fall morning in 1968. I went to chapel, took my assigned seat in complete unawareness of what was about to occur. The announcements were made, songs and prayers were led, and Scripture was read.
The chapel speaker, Glenn Owen, was introduced as a missionary visiting from Sao Paulo, Brazil. No big deal. I had never heard of him. However, as he described the hunger of the 
urban dwellers for Jesus the Bread of Life the foundations of my world shook.
Glenn Owen was the first of three men God would send from that group of Sao Paulo missionary families over the weeks until graduation to guide me in a very specific direction to accept His call rooted in my childhood and adolescent years.
In the dark of the night after that morning’s chapel service, I got into my 1965 
baby blue Ford Mustang and headed to Lake Fort Phantom Hill to talk with God and to answer His call. Preparation was about over.
A few days went by. Howard Norton, from the São Paulo missionary team arrived on campus and quickly made contact. Howard became an instant close friend. He shared a need to work with the Campo Grande congregation and inspired me to enroll in summer school to complete courses I lacked to receive my college degree and arrive in Brazil by November ready to work. I had been called to do.
After great coffee meetings with Glenn Owen, followed by lots of over the table coffee and planning with Howard Norton, then came Ellis Long from the São Paulo group. Ellis arrived on campus to complete necessary leveling work to enter a doctoral program at Florida State University. With meticulous orientation from Ellis Long, he showed me how to raise funds needed for my move to South America.
Indeed, I had been called to do. I was now set on a path that would color the entirety of my life’s walk. But more on that in my next post.
Was there a point in time that seemed to be the “Aha Moment” used by God to call you into the practice of your life’s work? Perhaps you have experienced multiple calls into a variety of vocations along your life’s trail. Have you ever felt God’s directional call or calls upon your life? Has God called you to serve Him through specific vocations? I would love to hear from you.
Stay tuned.
Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Called to Do
God Reflection 