Personal Stories of Faith
Workshop
Don Thompson & Cindy Miller-Perrin
Pepperdine University
Messiah College
August 24, 2005
Workshop Schedule
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9:00-10:30
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10:30-10:45
10:45-11:45
11:45-12:15
12:15-1:15
1:15-2:30
2:30-2:45
2:45-4:00
4:00-4:15
Summary of Vocation Survey Results
Sharing of Stories – Part 1
Break
Sharing of Stories – Part 2
Emerging Themes from Faculty Stories
Lunch
Vocation Definition
Break
Vocational Barriers
Workshop Conclusion
Faculty Survey on Vocation
• The assessment included a 75-item
survey
– Definitions of vocation
– Personal experiences of vocation
– Barriers to vocational discernment and
action
– Sacrifices associated with living out one’s
vocation
The Faculty Sample
• 34 faculty members completed the survey (100%
response rate)
• Mean age of participants: 48 years
• Gender
– 41% female; 59% male
• Race
– The majority of faculty participants are Caucasian
• Religious Identification
– The majority of faculty participants are Protestant
Definition and Scope of Vocation
Faculty Responses – Agree A Lot or Very Much
• Vocation Refers To
– Life purpose – 97%
– God’s will for one’s life – 97%
– Job/Career/Profession – 79%
– Personal interests or skills – 64%
– Formal ministry – 59%
– Gender – 6%
Definition and Scope of Vocation
Faculty Responses – Agree A Lot or Very Much
• Lifework Aspects of Vocation
– Service toward others – 77%
– Occupation/Career – 74%
– Community – 74%
– Church – 71%
– Marriage – 68%
– Parenthood – 65%
– Friendship – 53%
Personal Experiences of Vocation
• I have a strong sense of my own
personal vocation
Somewhat
A lot
Very much
21%
32%
47%
Personal Experiences of Vocation
• My vocation includes serving those in
need
Somewhat
A lot
Very much
2%
35%
62%
Personal Experiences of Vocation
Faculty Responses – Agree A lot or Very Much
• Personal sense of vocation develops
from:
– My personal interests
– My sense of God’s will
– Significant life experiences
– The influence of others
94%
94%
88%
74%
Barriers to Vocational Action
Faculty Responses – Not At All
• Demographic – 56%-82%
• Personal Attitudes or Emotions – 38%-62%
• Interpersonal Relationships – 44%-85%
• Personal and Social Circumstances – 35%-85%
• Personal Sacrifices – 18%-88%
Personal Attitudes and Emotions
as Barriers
Faculty reported the presence of:
(Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much)
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Need for personal control (44%)
Fear (39%)
Selfishness (39%)
Desire for certainty (36%)
Being uncertain of own vocation (33%)
Interpersonal Relationships
as Barriers
Faculty identified the following individuals:
(Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much)
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Parent or other family member (24%)
Supervisor/Boss (24%)
Spouse (18%)
Colleague (15%)
Teacher or professor (12%)
Mentor (12%)
Personal and Social Circumstances
as Barriers
Faculty endorsed the following:
(Faculty Responses – Ranging from Somewhat to Very Much)
• Raising children (45%)
• Concerns about supporting standard of
living (36%)
• Job-related responsibilities (36%)
• Lack of financial resources (33%)
• Other family responsibilities (27%)
Vocational Sacrifices
Faculty Responses – Agree A lot or Very Much
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Desired geographical location (42%)
Salary (39%)
Time with children (39%)
Time with spouse (39%)
Time with other family members (39%)
Time with friends (24%)
Personal Stories
Vocational Definition
• Our commission from God to identity,
lifestyle, ministry, and service
• Every decision, every relationship, every work
• Discipleship in obedience to Jesus, becoming
like Him
• God’s will
• The journey itself
Personal Stories
Vocational Discernment – Process
• Intersection of talents, skills, desires and
deep need for mankind
• Gut feelings - innermost convictions
• God’s loud voice speaking through tragedies,
disappointments, losses
• Ask and be asked questions
• Through experience, trial and error, surprises
- learn by doing
Personal Stories
Vocational Discernment – Evidence
• When nothing else matters
• Spiritual growth occurs
• Deep sense of joy, satisfaction, contentment,
peace, excitement, renewed energy
• Positive feedback from others
• Answered prayer
Personal Stories
Turning & Growth Points
• Death of family member or close friend
• Life’s mistakes & wrong turns
• Education
• Accepting Jesus
• Conflict, tension, growing pains
• Helping someone in need
• Parenting
Personal Stories
Vocational Mentoring - Protégé
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From Teachers, Professors & Colleagues
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Through scripture & inspirational writing
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Via spouse, parents, family members,
church family & friends
Personal Stories
Vocational Mentoring - Mentor
• Encourage, serve, support, lead, nudge,
excite, energize, hear, listen, share inner lives
• Understand vocation as journey
• Find where deep gladness meets deep
hunger
• Learn about self, giftedness, passions, life
purpose
Personal Stories
Vocational Obstacles
• Pride & Self-Centeredness
• Lack of faith
• Lack of self-confidence
• Struggle with traditional gender roles
• Balance between home and profession
• Health setbacks
Personal Stories
Vocational Obstacles (continued)
• Prejudice
• Family conflict, divorce, remarriage
• Manager/supervisor as discourager
• Sacrifice in distance from family & friendships
• Heartaches, darkness, despair
• Church culture
Definition and Scope of Vocation
• Secular View
– Work, Career, Occupation
• Christian View
– “a holy calling” 2 Timothy 1:9
– Any human activity that gives meaning,
purpose, and direction to life: lifework
• Public and Private Dimensions
– Work, ministry, community, relationships
Definition and Scope of Vocation
• “The place God calls you to is the place
where your deep gladness and the
world’s deep hunger meet” Buechner
– Vocation involves loving and serving others
– Vocation involves using the gifts God has
bestowed upon us
Vocational Definition
Discussion Questions
1. a) How do you conceptualize “vocation”?
b) In particular, how is vocation “not so
much a call to ‘do’ as to ‘be’”?
2. How does your own faith tradition define
calling?
3. How does your calling tie to your work with
students?
Vocational Barriers
• Various barriers or obstacles may
interfere with our ability to discern or
act upon our vocational callings
• Barriers serve as challenges that either
– create struggles that we must overcome
– create an impasse that redirects our
journey
Vocational Barriers
• Personal Values, Beliefs, and Emotions
– Secular views of vocation, fear
• Cultural Values
– Material success, competition, productivity
• Personal and Psychological Needs
– Security, control, certainty, power
• Social and Interpersonal Circumstances
– Finances, family responsibilities, stereotypes
Vocational Barriers
Discussion Questions
1. How do you conceptualize the notion of a
“vocational barrier”? In what way is it a
struggle to overcome vs. an impasse
redirecting your journey?
2. a) Describe a barrier you have faced in
pursuing God’s call.
b) Describe a good thing that has come
from dealing with this barrier.
3. What barriers are your students facing?
Concluding Remarks
• Comments about workshop experience
– What was of most value to you?
– What next steps will you pursue along your
vocational journey?
• Our insights from the workshop