Called, Refined, and Still Following - Reflections on a Life of Ministry and Discipleship

After more than two decades in ministry, I find myself walking through fire again — not one that consumes, but one that refines. This season has brought a fresh sense of urgency, and a deeper invitation to walk with God into unknown places. Here’s a reflection on where I’ve been, what I’m learning, and what I believe God is calling me to— and maybe all of us — in this moment. I've been in ministry long enough to know that I don't know everything — but also long enough to have experienced the sweetness of God’s hand in my life. The refinement I’m experiencing is not one that brings discouragement or disillusionment. Rather, it’s a refining fire that leaves me encouraged. I’m in a season where the familiar somehow feels unfamiliar, where God’s call still burns in my heart… but differently than before. It feels deeper, quieter — and yet more urgent.

The Unlikely Call

I don’t have the familiar story so many of my friends share about an early call to ministry. In fact, my call came later, while I was studying to become a medical doctor. I grew up the poor son of an oilfield worker. My dad was radically saved when I was a child and began taking our broken family to the Church of the Nazarene in Hobbs, New Mexico. Fast forward to my college years in pre-med, when I volunteered one summer to sponsor our church youth at NYC in Phoenix, Arizona. At a time when I was supposed to be overseeing a group of students as they encountered God, I had an encounter of my own. I was suddenly overwhelmed by His presence, and the call to ministry was unmistakable. Everything changed for me that day, and I haven’t looked back since.

The Journey of “Yes”

Over the years, saying yes to God — and to His call — has been both fulfilling and hard. That “yes” has led me through youth ministry, church planting, school starting, and now serving as lead pastor at Lantana Community Church. This journey has been one of learning, leading, and letting go. As a pastor and leader, my heart has always been set on building God’s kingdom through an outward mission. I understood early on that the health of a church is reflected in its ability to move from an inward posture to a neighborhood focus. Engaging our community with love, presence, and the gospel is paramount to seeing lives changed and people come to know Jesus Christ. In Lantana, we’ve successfully navigated that shift, clarifying our “why”: to love like Jesus so lives are changed.

Measuring Ministry Differently

The accomplishments of a pastor are sometimes easy to measure: planting a new church, launching a fully accredited school, baptisms, successful building projects — and the list goes on. These are the things that make our end-of-the-year report. But the true markers of ministry are not as easy to see. They’re found in midnight calls to prayer with a struggling family, tears shed around the altar on Sunday morning, someone choosing a life with Christ, or a young person saying yes to God’s call. The real work of the Spirit very often happens in the margins.

Writing from the Margins

That’s where I find myself today — writing from the margins. My burden is increasingly to speak into the complexity of our culture — not with political noise, but with biblical clarity and Spirit-filled compassion. I’ve started writing more. Reflecting more. Asking harder questions. And God is asking me to lead my people to a place where they don’t fear the fire — but are refined through it.

Refined by the Fire

I’m in a new season. A season where discipleship is more than a program to implement… where pastoral leadership is more than organizing a building and its ministries… where pastoring is more than managing a church. It’s about being transformed — and leading others so they can be transformed as well.

To my fellow pastors and ministry leaders, if you're tired or unsure — if your calling feels distant and the burden heavy — never forget: He who calls you is faithful as it is He who calls. The fire will not consume you. But you do have to go through it, if it is to refine you.

What’s the fire you're walking through right now? I’d love to hear what God is refining in you — feel free to leave a comment or send me a message.

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