Just last weekend my ten-year old daughter, Reagan, arrived home from an overnight church retreat for girls. She was so thrilled to tell us all about her experience.

The first words out of her mouth were “I’m going to be a minister when I grow up.”

My wife brilliantly replied, “That’s awesome! But you’re going to be a room-cleaner this afternoon.”

Earlier this week our children’s pastor, Heather Bergeron, filled us in on how Reagan was worshipping with tears in her eyes during the retreat.

There is something holy and precious about children encountering God. I was only a bit older (13) when I first sensed and responded to what I felt was a call to give my life to vocational ministry. I didn’t know what kind of ministry. I didn’t know much about how to go about pursuing ministry. I just knew that I had experienced God in an authentic way and I wanted to spend my life leading others to encounter him as well.