Second-Career Ministry: Serving the Same God in a Different Way, Rev. David Rosenau

Presentation Description

It has been called “The Great Resignation.” Others call it “The Big Quit.” Starting in early 2021, Americans began walking away from their jobs in record numbers. This has happened in virtually every labor field: health care, hospitality service, law enforcement, education, supply chain management. Some are quitting to look for better opportunities. Some are quitting because of increased challenges in their field. The bottom line: historic numbers of Americans are changing careers.

Has changing careers crossed your mind? If so, have you considered full-time ministry? Have you considered that serving your Savior publicly within a congregation—as a pastor, a teacher, or staff minister—might be your next career? Lutherans cherish the Doctrine of Vocation. The Lord calls this one to be a farmer and that one to be a pastor. As both strive to carry out those callings faithfully, they give God equal glory. However, it is also true that throughout history God has called individuals to switch careers. Elisha was a farmer until God called him to be a prophet, Elijah’s successor. Peter served God as a faithful fisherman until Jesus called Peter to fish for men. Likewise, WELS has many men and women who went into gospel ministry as their second career. In some cases, at first, it seemed like a silly proposition to them—too big a change, too much of a challenge. But with God, nothing is too big. Nothing is too challenging.

If changing careers has even crossed your mind, this breakout presentation is for you. Pastor David Rosenau, whose first career was in law enforcement but now serves as a parish pastor, will walk you through the considerations. He will help you ask yourself the right questions. He will share the joys of choosing ministry as your next career. And you will learn the options and the processes for pivoting to full-time gospel ministry, where you will serve the same God in a very different way.

Speaker Bio

Rev. David Rosenau

During the five years he worked as an apprentice mortician and funeral director, David Rosenau thought he knew what he was going to do for the rest of his life. Until he started a career at a sheriff’s department. After working a little more than a year as a deputy in the jail, he was transferred and promoted to detective to work in a narcotics and vice unit. After almost seven years in the unit he was promoted to Det. Sergeant and transferred to the detective bureau working homicide and violent crime.

From hearing and reading God’s Word he knew the Lord guides all things. But he did not know how God was working in all things all along to prepare him to be the pastor that God is using him to be today. David has been shepherding the saints at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Leesburg, Fla. and reaching out to the surrounding communities since August of 2009. God has blessed David and his wife, Susan with five children and two grandchildren, and he is convinced that now, by God’s grace, he knows what he will be doing for the rest of his life.