• 36°
Hartselle Enquirer
A. Ray Lee

A divine call

A. Ray Lee

Columnist 

I grew up in a culture of faith which taught a divine call was a prerequisite for one to enter into a Christian vocation as a pastor, evangelist or missionary. It was the highest calling one could ever receive in life. At Lebanon there were expectations and prayers that young men from the church would answer God’s summons. The church and its pastor often viewed those who responded to the call as their “preacher boys” and did all they could to encourage and support them in their preparation for ministry. 

Encouragement from those whom I looked up to for spiritual guidance was certainly instrumental in my choices which led to a lifetime of vocational Christian service. As a child I did not hear an audible voice in the night calling my name as did Samuel or receive a vision like that of Isaiah when he saw the Lord high and lifted up in the temple. I was not blinded by a light from heaven and a voice calling me to accountability like Saul on the Damascus Road. Never the less, God in His own way and time guided me into a vocational ministry. 

The nature of that ministry was not immediately revealed to me. It developed over a period of time as I sought to follow God’s plan for my life by using the gifts He had bestowed and by responding to opportunities for service He provided. Step by step I was led by providence until it became clear what my life’s work should be. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it developed into a vocational ministry as a pastor, a chaplain and in other areas of leadership within the Christian community and has spanned more than 60 years. 

As an ordained minister I may hold a degree from an institution proclaiming that I have been awarded a Master of Divinity degree.  Although more visible, I do not consider my Christian service to be any more divinely important than that of others who serve faithfully with little recognition. We are laborers together. God regards faithfulness above position. 

 

  

   

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

At a Glance

Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle High Medical Academy students practice on new EKG simulator  

Falkville

Falkville man arrested on murder, drug charges  

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Four Morgan roads getting reduced speed limits 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle native serves with U.S. Navy

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle police: Husband beats wife after finding male contacts in her phone 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Season passes now available for Hartselle Aquatic Center

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Morgan County Spring Clean-Up 2024 kicks off next month

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Morgan County High School Class of 1974 set to reunite after 50 years

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

ALEA’s 2024 Spring Boating Basics and License courses underway 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hands on the wheel: Alabama law focuses on distracted driving

At a Glance

Woman killed in interstate crash in Falkville

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Stisher, Frost in runoff for Morgan District 3 commissioner, Abercrombie reelected

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Halbrooks defeats Dobbs in Morgan County school board race 

Hartselle

Crafting dreams: A woodworker’s journey from hobby to artistry 

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Stisher, Frost in runoff; Abercrombie wins seat in Morgan commission races

At a Glance

Incumbent Dobbs loses to Halbrooks in race for Morgan BOE seat

At a Glance

Sheriff’s Academy open for registration  

FRONT PAGE FEATURED

Hartselle woman models at New York Fashion Week 

x