Workshops: Vocation

By Lily Bostaph

God’s calling, or vocation, refers to the unique purpose and path God has for each person’s life. At its core, vocation means “calling,” and it encompasses more than just a job—it reflects a life lived in response to God’s will and love.

After hearing testimonies from four individuals with varying lifestyles, I have come to realize that God created us uniquely. God has a plan for every one of us. Martin Luther taught that every believer has multiple callings—not just in the church, but also in family, work, and community. These roles are not pathways to earn salvation but opportunities to express faith through love and service. Vocation is grounded in grace, because we are justified by faith alone and then freed to serve.

Whether as a parent, teacher, farmer, or student, each task done in faith becomes a sacred calling. As for me and many of my peers, we are called to be faithful in our education as students. Even if algebra equations don’t make sense, or our English essays have multiple errors, we have to try our best in school—it’s where we absorb knowledge to better our futures and others’. God works through our ordinary lives to bless the world.

No matter what troubles or areas of life you find yourself in, it’s important to remember that God has a greater plan, and we are called to a life of worship, prayer, faith, and fellowship in Christ. Throughout the 2025 Fly Convention, the importance of understanding vocations helped us teens to prepare ourselves not only for our futures in Christ but also to reevaluate our perspectives on the lives we are currently living. Whether you’re flying fighter jets, cutting people’s hair, changing a diaper, or cleaning windows, God gives us opportunities to reflect on his love and compassion so that we can share it. After grasping what vocations are and hearing examples of how we respond to them, I put my trust in God and will embrace my calling no matter where God places me.

Bostaph is a member of Ruthfred Lutheran, Bethel Park, Pa.