Vocation is for More Than Pastors

By Oakland City University

Why should a student not intending to become a pastor pursue a degree at a Christian university? One word . . . vocation!

A vocation is different from a career in that a vocation comes from a sense of larger purpose and in response to a calling. As Christians, all of our activities should be in response to the call of God. A calling to ministry is not exclusive to pastors or missionaries. In scripture, the word ministry has at its root the idea of Christian service. A minister is one who serves others in the name of God. Such a definition of ministry means that it is for all Christians, rather than for a specific few. As Martin Luther said, “All Christians are called to the ministry at their baptism.” Being called and being ministers of the gospel is part of the basic equipment of being a follower of Jesus. Scripture reminds us that all of our activity should be done as for the Lord. Whatever our career choices, our work is to be carried out as work for God.

We should take our lives in the workplace as an opportunity to serve God and witness to the good news, making God present in whatever situation and whatever circumstance we encounter. Teachers, counselors, business owners, scientists, lawyers, accountants, data analysts, computer programmers, office administrators, law enforcement officers, and individuals in hundreds of other jobs are ministers of the gospel, even if they are not pastors. While a career in one of these areas is rarely officially connected to the church, Christians are called by God to carry their calling into all areas of life. All of the work of the people of God is about vocation!

Since its charter in 1885, Oakland City University has been known for training students for ministry. Training for pastoral ministry was an essential reason that the institution was founded. However, even in the early days of the school, programs besides those to prepare

pastors were offered to provide quality education for other vocations. For example, OCU is wellknown as a place for training educators, and it has been since the early 20th century. Today, the undergraduate programs at OCU are offered in many areas including business administration, early childhood education, biology, human resources, communications, history, marketing, English, mathematics, operations management, and physical education. Graduate programs are also offered in education and in business. All of this is in addition to the undergraduate and graduate programs offered in the Chapman School of Religious Studies and the Chapman Seminary.

Students who are looking to pursue one of these kinds of programs in college should explore the option of taking the program at a Christian university. Some important aspects of vocational training are only available from a Christian institution. We believe that a university must educate the whole person to prepare students for the ministry in whatever their vocation. Other institutions may prepare students for careers. A Christian university like OCU prepares students for more. We prepare students to fulfill their God-given calling. As a result, all aspects of the student’s preparation are addressed, including their preparation for service to others. Even as students are pursuing degrees in areas like psychology, criminal justice, accounting, or elementary education, they are also doing so in a Christian environment. They are learning about Christian beliefs and ethics. They are challenged to think about calling as well as career preparation. They are encouraged to seek God’s truth in all of life’s questions. In short, a degree at Oakland City University is about preparing the whole person for ministry in whatever their vocation.

For more information about the programs and degrees offered at Oakland City University, visit www.oak.edu