From Speech to Sermon: My Unlikely Call to Ministry

"God doesn't call the qualified; God qualifies the called." This profound statement has become a cornerstone of my faith journey, particularly as I reflect on my path into ministry. For years, my professional identity was rooted in the science and art of communication as a Speech-Language Pathologist, specializing in early intervention with the birth to three population. I thrived on helping the smallest voices find their words, navigate their first sentences, and connect with the world around them. It was a career where my qualifications and skills felt perfectly aligned with the task at hand.

Then came the whisper, the persistent nudge, the undeniable call to a different kind of service: ministry. My immediate reaction was a resounding, "Who, me? Are you sure?" I looked at my credentials, my experience, and my understanding of what a "minister" should be, and saw a vast chasm. My training was in phonetics, diagnostics, and therapy plans for toddlers, not sermons, spiritual counseling, or theological debates. I felt profoundly, unequivocally unqualified. How could someone whose expertise was in helping a child say "mama" or "ball" suddenly be tasked with proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ? The two worlds seemed entirely separate, my professional self ill-equipped for such a sacred, spiritual undertaking.

Yet, that's precisely the beauty of God's calling. It rarely aligns with our preconceived notions of readiness or our impressive résumés. God isn't looking for our polished qualifications; God is looking for a willing heart. Over time, I've come to understand that my background wasn't a hindrance but an unexpected preparation. The skills I honed—listening deeply to the nonverbal cues of a tiny child, celebrating the smallest breakthroughs, and patiently guiding a family toward better communication—are invaluable in ministry. I learned to truly hear people, to discern unspoken needs, and to gently guide others in a way that resonates and heals.

My journey is a living testament to God's strength working through what I once perceived as my inadequacies. It reminds me daily that when God calls, God also equips. The feeling of being unqualified never entirely disappears, but it is now overshadowed by a deep gratitude for a God who sees potential where we see limitations, and who uses our unique stories to further an even greater narrative. If you, too, are feeling a nudge towards something you feel utterly unprepared for, take heart. Perhaps, like me, you are precisely the kind of "unqualified" person God is looking to qualify.