Called to be... forgiven

Video transcript

I’ve always felt a call to serve, and I saw my involvement with my local corps as a way to do that. But more recently, I have begun to sense that call shifting from inward ministry to reaching outward into the wider community. For a while, I struggled with knowing how to fulfil that sense of calling. But through serving as a street pastor, I’ve discovered a way to live it out, offering a listening ear, a helping hand and a caring heart to people in the night-time economy. 

For me, calling is really about showing up and being available, noticing the opportunities God places in front of me and trying in small ways to reflect his love in everyday situations. Being called to follow God also means recognising our own need for grace and forgiveness. None of us gets it right all the time, and part of the journey of faith is learning to accept God’s forgiveness and then extend that same grace to others. This is a word I remind myself often in life’s frustrating moments. 

Extending that grace to others means trying to approach people without judgement, being patient, and remembering we are all works in progress. It’s about trying to live with kindness, compassion and awareness of the people around me – whether that’s volunteering as a street pastor, supporting others, listening when a friend or a stranger needs to talk, or simply being willing to help where I can. Calling isn’t always about the big moments. Often it’s in the small consistent ways we choose to care for people and reflect God’s love in our everyday lives.