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When I was in high school I thought God was calling me into full time service. I went to Bible college and felt lead to go into teaching. However, to make a long story short I went into work that was quality control. Although, I was active teaching the adult Sunday school and other activities I was happy. My pastor, when I was unemployed, about 15 years ago, asked me if I wanted to be a youth pastor in our church - but I said no it didn't feel right.

Now unemployed, I have had several different jobs, I ask myself, at the age of 50, have I gone to God's permissive will and missed my chance to go into ministry.

I think of my home church back in Ohio that is floundering, they run about 30 people on Sunday, I wonder if I went into ministry could I have made a difference.

So I guess I am wondering if a man turns his back on God's call and repents, which I did, is there hope for him to go into the ministry?

My own father's story is VERY similar to your own. After retiring and trying to discern what the Lord would have him to do he was convinced he had missed his chance to follow the calling he had sensed as a teenager. However, he did answer the call and has now been in full-time ministry for the last 15 years and done wonderfully well. It is never to late (in this life) to respond to the leading of the Lord (in my reading of Scripture).

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Brother GaryM ; Shalom , the Lord Is Full of Mercy and Love !!! Why Let your Past , Rule your Future ? !!! Jonah tried to Flee God !!! His Heart led him , but God directed his steps back to Him !!! Antipater : Excellant Post to encourage our brother !!! It*s Never to Late to serve Him ... !!! As we have breath , let Us Praise the Lord , bless everyone amen shalom !!!

2 Chronicles 7:14 14 if my people, who belong to me, humble themselves, pray, seek to please me, and repudiate their sinful practices, then I will respond from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. Context (NET)

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Blessings,
Randy
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I like this verse:

Romans 11:29 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Context (NET)

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Gary:

Whether you 'turned your back' on God's call or whether the situation just wasn't right is something only you can answer — if even you can.

Even if that is the case, it reminds me of the parable:

It's never too late to serve God.

We All have been called into full-time ministry with the gifts that God has given to each of us. That is not to say that each of us has been called to serve in the same capacity.

But I like to remember the story of Jonah. He not only turned his back on what God had called him to do, but he outright ran away from what God called him to do. But out of God's kindness, Jonah was moved to repentance, and, although late, fulfilled what God had called him to do.

And look at the life of Paul. He was running around persecuting Christians for a long time. Although he thought he was doing God's will, but when he finally met Jesus, Jesus asked him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Acts 26:14 (ESV)

God will accomplish His purposes, whether it is through us, after we have come to our senses and repented, or through someone else who will do what He requires. Isn't He awesome in all His ways? Amen!

In the words of Ruth: "Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!" Ruth 4:14 (ESV)

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Until He Returns (Rev. 2:17),
Travis

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act. ~George Orwell

Well Put!

I think this is relevant to the OP, and to me as well. We each have a ministry here on this earth, and that ministry is not yet complete while we live in this life. If I can quote Robert Frost out of context,

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Not all those who wander are lost.

Thank you everyone for your responses I am truly touched. Please pray for me as I seek God's direction in my life.

God bless you all.

A wise pastor once told me to "not live on your regrets because everyone has them".

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like Job, God will Restore to you the time spent doing other things -- better to start doing God's Will now than fret over the potentially missed opportunities

Gary

I wonder if Moses felt much like you .... but he was 80 (or so, I think) before he finally answered God's call.

The thing is, what you now have is many years in the school of life - something which I think will be invaluable if you now can go into the ministry.

In Australia, we have a system where young me can go from school straight to bible college and then straight into ministry ..... it worries me, they have never spent time out in the world, living in the rough and tumble most of us have to live in .... and most of them really have no idea.

I also wonder if that is a factor in both burn-out and falling into sin for so many of our young pastors.

in Christ

Dinah

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There's always time, Gary.

God hasn't given up on you yet.

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"THE LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1)

A man who has - for whatever reason - left the 'ministry' -- is there still 'hope' for that person?
As long as a person is still alive -- there's 'hope'. It would depend on Why he left in the first place -- if he ran into a problem and had to leave -- he might not be able to be in a Pastorate again. But there are other forms of ministry. Teaching a Sunday School class -- heading up church visitation programs or at least being active in it.