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Leaving the Emerging Leadership Summit I was challenged and inspired and came away grateful that I have been summoned as well. This weekend experience served in many ways to renew my own call to ministry, a call I answered in 1979.
I signed up for the Summit initially to spend some time with my 16-year-old son, Ben, as a kind of father/son weekend. Little did I know how beneficial the Summit would be for this father and his son, who has been endeavoring to hear God's call in his own life.
For Ben, the session topics could not have been more timely. While riding recently to a basketball game Ben asked me, “Dad, how do you know what God wants you to do [in life]?” The few insights I had to offer that afternoon were providentially supplemented by the two sessions Ben attended, “How do the passions in my life fit into my all-encompassing passion for Christ?” and “How can I learn to hear God's voice?”
Though I am grateful to have had such a great experience with my son, I have only one regret: I didn't have any of my youth or their leaders along with me. What a tremendous experience they missed. There's really only one remedy for that regret though. I have to bring them next year! Any plans in the works yet? I want to spread the word now.
This weekend gave me one more reason to be proud I am a Virginia Baptist!
Special to the Herald
Ted Smith is pastor of Ash Camp Baptist Church in Keysville.