Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck
Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck in Live Your Calling: A Practical Guide to Finding and Fulfilling Your Mission in Life. (2005, Jossey-Bass.)
“Our primary calling is to be in a personal relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. … [This] primary calling is not tied to our employment.” (5)
“… Incredibly, God calls us to be his ‘fellow workers.’ Embracing us as his partners to help fulfill his purposes on earth, God calls us to various tasks and life roles. These are our secondary callings, which include such life roles as parent, spouse, family member, worker, student, church member, citizen, friend, and neighbor. Our secondary callings provide the contexts in which we can live our primary calling to follow Jesus. … Your work, or vocational calling, is one of your secondary callings. It is inextricably connected to your primary calling to be in a relationship with God. … Your vocational calling is a summons from God to use your gifts in the world, whether it be within paid employment, the home, or volunteer activities.” (7)
“Our vocational calling emerges out of our relationship with God, so inevitably there is a dimension of mystery to it. … We present three biblical ‘compass principles’ here that guide us in the search for our vocational calling. …
- God calls us to keep our primary calling primary
- God calls us to use our gifts to meet needs in the world – We can do God’s work in the pulpit or in the factory. We are called to be full-time Christians wherever we are and in whatever we do. God calls some of us to work in churches, mission agencies, and Christian organizations. He calls others of us to work in the marketplace.
- God calls us to proactive stewardship of our gifts (12-13, 17)
“Living your vocational calling is a journey. As you grow and mature, God can use you in new and more significant ways. Your journey may take you through the levels of vocational fit one step at a time, such as progressing from just a job to OK work to enjoyable work. As you continue on your journey, investing the time and energy needed and being willing to risk, you can move up the levels of vocational fit. … Our vocational calling is an ongoing journey, not a destination.” (23)
Kevin and Kay Marie Brennfleck are APU alumni and certified career counselors. To learn more, visit www.LiveYourCalling.com.
