My Ordination Day

By Joel Hanson

On Sunday, May 31, 2009, I was ordained. How appropriate that I should be ordained on Pentecost Sunday --the day when the disciple's of Christ were filled with the Holy Spirit! God's calling was fulfilled in me on Pentecost 2009.

My Ordination Day was filled with tradition, emotions and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  The congregation of Servant of the Shepherd, a small church in River Falls, Wisconsin, came together to put their stamp of approval on God's work in me. Through the laying on of hands, the men and women of the body of Christ accepted and installed me as their Associate Pastor.

Those assembled came to participate for a number of reasons.  MI president Mike Bradley gave a message that was one for the ages. "Don't settle for less," he told us. As children of God created in His image, we must always strive for something better than the status quo. Mike implored all of us to remember the children of Israel who, when their backs were against the Red Sea, had to put their trust and faith in God for their salvation. Are we any different? What will my "Red Sea" look like? Will I settle for less and revert back to what is comfortable and complacent, or will I reach out to God and ask Him to "part the waters" and let me walk through the darkness of fear and doubt and into the light of His Son, Jesus Christ?

Ordination Day was made all the more special by those who came to witness what God had created and placed upon my heart -- the call to love and serve His sheep. My family from Shepherd of the Valley were there along with my MI family. In addition to Mike Bradley and Pastor Frank three other area pastors participated in the ceremony. I had worked with all of them and have a deep love and respect for the work they do for the Lord.

For me, ordination was the culmination of one journey and the beginning of the next.  As Dan Daum said at this year's MI Graduation Ceremony, the title of "Pastor" is more than just a word. A pastor is truly a shepherd of the flock God has given him to minister to.  Now I will put away the alb and stole, roll up my sleeves, and begin in earnest to answer God's calling --- always aware that I won't settle for less.