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Embracing the Call
Do you have compassion and urgency for lost souls? Are you ready to go, you just don't know how or where? Are you willing to "get your hands dirty" working for the calling God has given to you? Written by Dr. Sumrall towards the end of his life, this book is written to inspire you to be all that God has called you to be. Think how awesome it is that God, who created all things, would choose you to represent Him on earth. He sees something in you. If you have felt the call of God on your life-whether God has called you to preach, teach or mow the church lawn- the world needs a zealous new generation who is willing to be used by God upon the Earth.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 21, 2019
"He has a plan for you-and it's not for you to sit around, content that you are the son or daughter of somebody who was a good Christian or that you are a successful pastor with a very content flock, a balanced budget and a master's degree diploma hanging on your wall.
No, God has more for you. He has a mighty purpose for you. He wants you to get out there and change lives, to make your world a better place because you want to serve Him." (Lester Sumrall, Embracing the Call)
The Author, Lester Sumrall, begins this book telling of his own beginnings in ministry. How a death sentence was upon his life at the age of seventeen years old. He had been coughing up blood for weeks, hemorrhaging inside his diseased lungs, and the doctor gave these solemn words to his father: "The boy is as good as dead now. Call anyone you want to see him. In two hours, there will be no life left. I'll fill out the death certificate tonight, and you come by the office to pick it up in the morning. Then you can go down to the cemetery and choose a burial plot." That night the Author had a vision of a large Bible on the right side of his bed, and coffin made just for him on the other. He says God spoke to him giving him the choice of "death or a life of serving Him." Fortunately, he choose the latter. He says his choice was either to be a preacher or spend an eternity in hell. He says, "The commitment to preach was also my commitment to give my heart to Jesus Christ. I accepted both His calling and His full salvation. It was settled."
The Author wrote this book as a tool to pass on the sword (ministry) to the younger generation of ministers coming on the scene. It is filled with his own story of meeting his mentors, Howard Carter and Smith Wigglesworth. How both of these men mentored and trained him in ministry. He relates a story of Smith Wigglesworth laying his hand on him and giving him his spirit:
"On my final visit before returning to America, he said, 'I am going to bless you with my spirit.' We knelt down, and he placed his hands on my shoulders and prayed, "God, let the faith that is in my heart be poured into the heart of this young man. And let the works that I have seen You do be done in his life and ministry. Let the blessing that You have given to me be his. Let the holy anointing that has rested upon my life rest upon his."
In the last chapters of this book he then passes his sword to the next generation of ministers, relating how Moses' passed his sword to Joshua, Samuel to King Saul, Elijah to Elisha, and Jesus' to His disciples. The Author was I believe in his sixties at the time of writing of this book, and uses this book to pass his mantle onto others to fulfill the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
No, God has more for you. He has a mighty purpose for you. He wants you to get out there and change lives, to make your world a better place because you want to serve Him." (Lester Sumrall, Embracing the Call)
The Author, Lester Sumrall, begins this book telling of his own beginnings in ministry. How a death sentence was upon his life at the age of seventeen years old. He had been coughing up blood for weeks, hemorrhaging inside his diseased lungs, and the doctor gave these solemn words to his father: "The boy is as good as dead now. Call anyone you want to see him. In two hours, there will be no life left. I'll fill out the death certificate tonight, and you come by the office to pick it up in the morning. Then you can go down to the cemetery and choose a burial plot." That night the Author had a vision of a large Bible on the right side of his bed, and coffin made just for him on the other. He says God spoke to him giving him the choice of "death or a life of serving Him." Fortunately, he choose the latter. He says his choice was either to be a preacher or spend an eternity in hell. He says, "The commitment to preach was also my commitment to give my heart to Jesus Christ. I accepted both His calling and His full salvation. It was settled."
The Author wrote this book as a tool to pass on the sword (ministry) to the younger generation of ministers coming on the scene. It is filled with his own story of meeting his mentors, Howard Carter and Smith Wigglesworth. How both of these men mentored and trained him in ministry. He relates a story of Smith Wigglesworth laying his hand on him and giving him his spirit:
"On my final visit before returning to America, he said, 'I am going to bless you with my spirit.' We knelt down, and he placed his hands on my shoulders and prayed, "God, let the faith that is in my heart be poured into the heart of this young man. And let the works that I have seen You do be done in his life and ministry. Let the blessing that You have given to me be his. Let the holy anointing that has rested upon my life rest upon his."
In the last chapters of this book he then passes his sword to the next generation of ministers, relating how Moses' passed his sword to Joshua, Samuel to King Saul, Elijah to Elisha, and Jesus' to His disciples. The Author was I believe in his sixties at the time of writing of this book, and uses this book to pass his mantle onto others to fulfill the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
November 6, 2018
I have embraced His call
This book has blessed me. This is one of the books the Holy Spirit gave to prepare for my assignment here on earth. I have embraced the call.
This book has blessed me. This is one of the books the Holy Spirit gave to prepare for my assignment here on earth. I have embraced the call.
January 1, 2011
A very "old style" book by a Baptist/Pentecostal-type Christian, this book basically runs over some of the real-life lessons the author learned as he became active in being a formal, human-ordained minister. He does have some great insights and wisdom to share, but those who are looking for something outside of the cultural lifestyle that many conservative, even rural Christians insist is the only "real" Christianity will be bored and disappointed. Maybe find this book at a garage sale or for a few pennies at a used book store?
August 20, 2009
A very helpful book for someone hearing God to come higher...excellent mentoring tips for young ministers by a veteran. A must read for someone just starting in ministry...sets out the issues and pitfalls to watch for.
July 31, 2016
This book is great. You can receive from Sumralls apostolic anointing still simmering on the pages, as in other of his books. He was truly a remarkable "General" of faith, blazing trails the modern charismatic church takes for granted. Bless his soul.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews