Dr. David Croteau, Dean of the Seminary & School of Counseling, sat down with Dr. Rick Christman —pastor, educator, and former CIU Executive Vice President—for a conversation on discovering life’s purpose and calling.
Why Do People Wait to Ask About Purpose?
I have worked in the business world, the nonprofit world and in higher education—and I’ve often noticed that people don’t begin asking “What is my purpose?” until later in life. People reflect back and ask, “Why was I here? Was there meaning to my life? Or was I just an accident?”
For me, the answer is clear: we are not accidents or atoms flung together. God has created each one of us intentionally. Psalm 139 says, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” That truth tells me that every life has meaning, and we each truly have a purpose. My goal as an educator and mentor is to help others realize that they, too, were created with purpose and value.
What Are the Components of Life Purpose?
When I talk about life’s purpose, I lean on the research of my colleague Bill Millard at the Center for Life Calling and Leadership. He has found three key components, which I’ve seen play out in the lives of countless students and adults.
- Foundational values – At the core of one’s values is the question, “What do I believe?” This is my faith, my values and how I live them out in character and service. Too often, people borrow beliefs from parents, pastors or churches without ever sitting down to ask about their own values. Living with integrity means aligning faith and character, then letting that shape how I serve the world around me.
- Unique design – God designed each of us uniquely. We may share common traits as humans, but our combination of strengths, passions and experiences sets us apart. Experiences in particular shape how we live out our design. Just as elemental carbon can become diamonds, coal or graphite depending on pressure and heat, our lives are molded by what we’ve gone through. We all have useful purposes, but our experiences shape how we live that purpose in our unique way. The uniqueness points us toward how we are meant to serve.
- Personal mission – This is where values and design come together in action. Too often, fear or distraction keeps people from taking this step. Engagement is crucial to this part of our purpose. I’ve talked with people later in life who said, “I knew what God called me to do, but I never stepped into it.” Living with purpose requires the courage to act, even when it feels uncertain.
How Is Purpose Discovered?
Purpose isn’t always obvious, especially at age 18. I remind parents dropping their kids off at college: Did you know what you were meant to do at 18? Most of us didn’t. Purpose unfolds through a discovery process, and it looks different for everyone. Some people may start out in a particular career but fulfilling their calling throughout that career—or career changes—continues the discovery process of life purpose.
Some people sense their calling early. Others, like me, discover it later. I didn’t fully step into my calling to teach until I was in my 30s. That doesn’t mean God wasn’t shaping me along the way. Every experience I had prepared me for the moment I recognized and embraced my purpose.
A Lifelong Journey
I believe every person has a God-given purpose. But discovering that purpose is rarely a single event. It’s a lifelong journey that deepens as we grow. When we align our foundational values, our unique design and our personal mission, we step into the life God created us to live.
Step Into Your Calling at CIU
At Columbia International University, we believe discovering your purpose happens best in a Christ-centered community where your faith and education are deeply connected. Whether you’re preparing for ministry and missions, counseling, education, liberal arts and communication, nursing and science, or business, CIU equips you to live out your God-given calling with confidence.
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Dr. Rick Christman came to Columbia International University in May 2019 to serve as executive vice president of Student Services and Online Services. He now serves as president of Kingswood University. Dr. Christman has served 17 years in Christian higher education as a professor and administrator and has ministered for more than 25 years in the Wesleyan Church as a pastor and educator. He understands the critical need for Christian higher education and the need to preserve and instill Christian values and ideals into students from all walks of life and at different stages of life. He joined us for a discussion about how to discern one’s purpose and how purpose is a dynamic experience across the lifespan.
