Convinced that I should become a pastor

Dear Pastor,

I am a young man and I feel like I am called into the ministry. I have never touched a woman in any intimate way.

I grew up with my grandparents. My mother left me with them to find employment. She used to come home every two weeks, and brought groceries, money and whatever I needed for my grandparents to take care of me. I love my grandmother. My grandfather was a very quiet but stern man.

I used to ask my grandmother many questions. Although I had my own room, I would wake up and go in bed with my grandparents. They took me to church with them every Sunday, and I had to sit and be quiet. Sometimes the pastor used to have Sunday dinner at our house. Even after he got married, my grandparents had him and his wife at our house. From very early, I told my grandparents that I wanted to be a minister.

Pastor, I have done very well at school. I have seven passes. Sometimes I struggle in deciding whether I should be a minister or a doctor. I like the ministry more. My mother, who is now living in the United States of America, told me that I should take my mind off ministry because it does not pay much. She said I should think of becoming a medical doctor. I went to a prestigious high school. Some of my classmates are now doing law and medicine. But I cannot stop thinking about the ministry.

I have a girlfriend and she told me that I will become a good minister, and I asked her why she thinks that way. She told me that I have never tried to touch her and yet one of my friends who knows that she and I are very close, has tried to touch her. I feel so disappointed in that friend. Do you think that something is wrong with me why I do not have any feelings for women? Don't get me wrong, I do not have any feelings for men, either; that is not in my mind at all.

I have spoken to the dean of a college in Jamaica and he told me that he would recommend me for the ministry. But I read your column often and I crave your opinion.

J.N.

Dear J.N.,

Thank you for writing. There is a verse in the Bible which says, " Then saith he unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few" (Matthew 9:37).

I remember some years ago I went to a prominent high school to speak at its Career Day, and during the rap session, I asked the students what types of careers they want to take on. Some said that they wanted to be engineers, lawyers, medical doctors, teachers; the list was long. But no one said that they wanted to be a minister of religion. I felt very sad, because to be a minister of the gospel is a high and noble calling. Yes, it is true that many ministers are poorly paid; some could hardly live on what they receive from their denomination, but it is a high calling.

Your mother wants you to choose a profession in which all your needs would be met. She doesn't want you to struggle financially, that is one of the reasons why she is not encouraging you to enter the ministry. But I say to you, young man, follow your heart. If God has called you to be a minister of the gospel, he will provide for you, and every need will be met.

Pastor