Five Calls

A little-known aspect of my city ministry was that, during nearly 20 years of ministry, I received five calls to other Churches. Three of the calls were to positions overseas, and one was to my previous Church -- they wanted me back (I was in the city anyway because they wanted me back). I declined the first four calls, all for the same reason, even though they were, in one way or another, attractive offers, and staying in the city looked tough. I felt that the work that was being done in the city was too useful and too deep to give up for something else. OBSERVATION: I also received a call to take on a second Church in the city (two at once), but declined after discussing it with my own Church. That seemed too daunting a task.