From The Chaplain's Wife

1. WHY

For the Sake of the Call

By: Steven Curtis Chapman

Nobody stood and applauded them
So they knew from the start
This road would not lead to fame
All they really knew for sure was Jesus had called to them
He said "Come follow me" and they came
With reckless abandon they came

Empty nets lying there at the water’s edge
Told a story that few could believe and none could explain
How some crazy fishermen agreed to go where Jesus lead
With no thought for what they would gain
For Jesus had called them by name and they answered

[Chorus:]
We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die
For the sake of the call

Drawn like the rivers are drawn to the sea
No turning back for the water cannot help but flow
Once we hear the Savior's call we'll follow wherever he leads
Because of the love He has shown
And because he has called us to go we will answer

We will abandon it all for the sake of the call
No other reason at all but the sake of the call
Wholly devoted to live and to die

[Bridge:]
Not for the sake of a creed or a cause
Not for a dream or a promise
Simply because it is Jesus who calls
And if we believe we'll obey

[Chorus]

Why? That is the big question. Why did my husband become a Chaplain rather than a pastor? Why would he leave a decent paying job at Target with the potential to go far within the company and just have a part-time position at a church somewhere? Why would we settle for a job where he has the potential to be away from the family for so much of our lives, and even a potential to be killed? Why when there are other ways of making a living? Why head toward the military when very few people – family or friends – really supported our decision? And why did I not stop him?

As the song states – it was for the sake of the call. My husband graduated with his M.Div. in May of 2008, if I remember my dates correctly. He had been putting out applications all over the country for full-time pastorate positions and earlier that semester we had moved to Florida pursuing what we thought was going to turn into a full-time position. That fell through and he continued to send out hundreds of applications. Basically, the two requirements for full-time pastoral ministry at that time were 1) have at least 5-10 years of experience and 2) be willing to serve full-time for about $18,000 per year. With a brand new degree and three children under age four, we couldn’t pass either requirement.

At some point after moving to Florida he was hired by Target and throughout the next year or so of employment he did well and was rising through the ranks with a good future ahead of him. He was also serving as Associate Pastor at a local church, unpaid, with as much time as he was able. One problem with all this: even though we were able to pay our bills (a very important thing for my sanity), neither of us was truly content with where our life was at.

And then one of us had the idea of the military – my husband says it was me. I have no clue who it was. If it was me, it just proves that is even more of a God-thing to even consider heading in that direction because after having gone to a predominately military college as a civilian student, I had become pretty much dead set against being married to someone in the military. Not going to happen! But regardless of whose idea it was, we both began praying about and researching this possibility. We both felt God leading us in this direction. Looking at the requirements, both spoken and unspoken, it seemed as though we were tailor-made for this pursuit. And for the first time in quite a while, we both had an excitement and a peace about a ministry direction.

I knew that there would be resistance to us pursuing this direction. There was no one standing and applauding us, as the song says, as we went through the application process – just doubters and naysayers. Road blocks were often met with smiles and laughter on their part, and more determination and prayer on our part.

But I also knew, beyond a doubt, that we were headed in the right direction. We had finally found our place in where to serve God. I cannot even begin to explain the peace I had over my husband going through the whole, long, drawn-out application process. It was a completely different experience from what ministry and the pursuit of ministry had been for the previous two or three years, at least. For the first time we were completely united in the pursuit of the call of Christ. Previously one or the other of us just felt uncomfortable with where we were at without ever really knowing or understanding why. But now we have found something that we can honestly say we are pursuing until they kick us out! Who knows what exactly the future will bring or what it will look like, but he has the potential to put in about 30 years with the military and so that is what we are pursuing for our future serving the Lord. Oh, the peace that passes understanding! Thank you, Jesus!!