Your Calling - Elizabeth O’connor

1928–98

Before 1952, Elizabeth O’Connor was “unchurched,” as she would put it. She wasn’t a churchgoer and didn’t hold any particular Christian beliefs. But then friends who had helped her care for her sick brother invited her to the Church of the Saviour in Washington, DC. Out of respect for them, she went. It took just that one visit to the church, just that one time hearing the gospel, for Elizabeth’s life to be changed. After that day, she made that city and that church her home.

Elizabeth became very involved in her church and its ministries, and she spread the church’s story through her books and articles. She felt it was her calling.

Having a calling was a common theme in Elizabeth’s writings. God has a call for everyone, a good work that they need to do. Those who choose to obey the call help others while benefiting themselves. Through the process of obeying the call, an individual becomes more of the person God wants him or her to be.

This wasn’t just Elizabeth’s belief. It was also embraced by the church’s other members. They would spend time in prayer and meditation, listening closely to what God called them to do. In the mid-1970s, the church as a whole felt called to start six new churches. Through this new network of churches throughout DC, members helped others (and themselves) discern their own personal calls.

These believers understood that church wasn’t just for their personal benefit. They lived out their belief that the insights they received at church were messages they should carry into the world to benefit others.

What programs or classes does your church offer that you can attend to help you gain the knowledge and give you the encouragement to tackle what God calls you to do? Are you willing to get involved at church so you can get involved in the world?

We keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

2 Thessalonians 1:11