John Toblers Testimony and Call to Ministry

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

1984- 1998

Christian home

Bible

Sunday School

Good example - Did the best with what they had

1998-2008

Open rebellion

Proverbs 6:10–11 “10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”— 11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.”

Proverbs 24:33–34 “33 “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest,” 34 Then your poverty will come as a robber And your want like an armed man.”

No church- Youth campus.

My dad had been introduced to Macarthur

MacArthur tapes - Friends made fun of it.

I would think about my actions and consequences often. I knew where I was going if I died. Yet I put it off. I though eventually.

2007-08 My brothers conversion

2008-09 My conversion - 180

Friends were beside themselves. Typical characatures.

2009-10

A thirst for truth. EV wasn’t doing it

Piper

John Owen, RC Sproul

2010-2013

Coming to the refomed faith

Always had a desire to defend the truth, to see others embrace and grow in the same.

Led a couple Bible studies

Joint led a Bible study at the homeless shelter

Had some studies with some of the homeless men at the MCdonalds

I began to have the heart of a shepherd. I enjoyed opening up the word to these men and seeing them grab hold of the truths.

I learned that you don’t call yourself to the ministry.

A brother from the church said “you can’t run from the ministry.” So just begin serving faithfully and God will get his ministers.

1 Timothy 3:1 “1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

Hebrews 5:4 “4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.”

My evaluation matured and desire began to grow. I saw the necessity of both.

2013-2022

I was learning how to serve the church. How to love the church and the people of God. I led a man through an in depth theology study nearly my whole time in Northfield, MN. I couldn’t help myself. If people wouldn’t appreciate it I suppose I could have.

2014-15 My first opportunity to any publick exercise of teaching was here in this church as I stumbled through my Scripture readings

It was here that Pastor Rendall began to encourage me about future ministry. Lord knew I wasn’t ready at that time. But it was here when I began to get the sense that I could not picture myself doing anything else

2016 Marriage- Melissa knew the possibility of ministry going into marraiage. I actually had that in mind as I considered marriage.

2017-2022 Opportuniuties of teaching in the church opened up. I would teach rotating with other men all ages of Sunday school, from elementary- adult. Partook in a preaching class with several men of the church. All the while hosting a mens study for some time and every Sunday evening hosting a fellowship time and led a book study while mentoring several young Christian men. This was an encouraging time, and a time of confirmation that I had gifts of teaching that were being recognized.

It would be in 2022 that my first preaching opportunity came here again in this building. Pastor Rendall and I had met on a family visit down here and I can’t remember the occasion. But we got to talking about ministry and he had asked me if I still had a desire for ministry. I said, I think so. I haven’t had opportunity to preach( formally) but I think I can preach. I did not mean this in a proud way, but more, I like to see if all these sermons I preach in my head are of any edification to the people.

I had always been preaching in my own head. Studying a passage and then preaching some point of meaning or application in my head. Everything I read and studied, I seemed to naturally do with the view of teaching or preaching in mind

You all know the rest.

This past couple years has further confirmed and encouraged my desire for pastoral ministry. I love serving you all in this capacity. I enjoy it

1 Timothy 6:3 “3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,”

I desire to uphold these two things in your midst

To teach the people here to live and die well to the glory of God.