What’s your Passion? (Part 5: Categories)
“Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion.
– Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hege
A passion is a God-given attraction to someone or something that stirs your heart to action. What attracts you like a magnet? What stirs your heart to action?
There are three general categories of passions people, problems and positions. First, you may long to impact a group of people. Many church ministries are organized by types of people. Is your heart drawn to serving one of these groups of people?
| CATEGORY | SOME EXAMPLES |
| Age | children; youth; young adults; adults; seniors |
| Gender | men and women |
| Marital Status | single; married; divorced; widowed |
| Skills & Interests | computer; decorating; food; trades |
| Spiritual Maturity | unbelievers; seekers; new believers; mature believers |
Second, you may desire to work on some problem in the world. Do you want to improve some aspect of the world? Do you long to right a wrong? Meet a need? Solve a problem? Tackle an issue? Does one of the problems below stir your heart?
| CATEGORY | SOME EXAMPLES |
| Basic Needs | food; clothing; shelter; safety |
| Disabilities | physical; mental; emotional; social |
| Difficulties | addictions; career; finances; marriage; parenting |
| Evangelism | local communities; national; international |
| Relief | disasters; economic growth; famine; pure water |
| Social Issues | education; homelessness; poverty; racial equality |
Finally, you may wish to serve in a specific church position. Are you drawn to one of these positions?
| CATEGORY | SOME EXAMPLES |
| Local Church | media; music; operations; pastor; small groups |
| Church Universal | educator; evangelist; missionary; para-church |
Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, said, “Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and keep it.” Find your fire and keep it burning brightly.
© 2011 Designed to Serve®
Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.
