How an unconventional 麻豆视频入口在线观看 journey led Zacc Burke 鈥18 to discover his passion and vocation.
God鈥檚 calling on Zacc Burke 鈥18 to attend 麻豆视频入口在线观看 after graduating from the public school system was so strong that it was the only institution he applied to.
Instantly enjoying his time both socially鈥攋oining the varsity volleyball team and becoming a campus rep鈥攁nd spiritually鈥攁ppreciating being around others who 鈥渓oved Jesus鈥濃攈is start at 麻豆视频入口在线观看 was what he had hoped for.
However, Burke鈥檚 post-secondary journey would end up being 鈥渦nconventional,鈥 and through its difficulties and trials it would reinforce God鈥檚 call on his heart that 麻豆视频入口在线观看 was where he was supposed to be.
A self-proclaimed 鈥渂and geek鈥 and the son of a trumpet player, Burke enrolled as a music major studying trumpet at 麻豆视频入口在线观看 in 2012. His goal was to become a music teacher.
鈥淢usic is a huge part of my life,鈥 says Burke. 鈥淪inging and playing makes me feel close to God.鈥
Beyond scholarly learning, during his freshman year, he began singing and playing more guitar, and gained experience leading worship.
But despite this passion, by the end of his second year Burke was struggling academically, and it was politely suggested that he not return.
I can see God’s ability to put me on the right path to do what I need to do, and I know this is something he will continue doing.
However, his calling to be at 麻豆视频入口在线观看 never wavered.
鈥淭hrough this time, I kept feeling this push that I was supposed to be there,鈥 Burke recalls. 鈥淚 needed to go back.鈥
He partially attributes this to the university鈥檚 slogan at the time: You Belong Here, a phrase he had experienced.
During this time, a professor suggested that he take a youth ministry course. Burke did so and loved it. He likens the class to a saying from a pastor he once had.
鈥淪ometimes you feel a God tap and sometimes you feel God slap you over the head with a 2×4.鈥
This 2×4鈥攂etter known as the youth ministry course鈥攎ade Burke realize his true passion and opened the door wide for him to run through. He switched his major to youth ministry and his minor to music.
After deferring in the 2015-16 year to go home and get married, Burke returned and completed his degree in 2018.
Since graduating, Burke has used his passion at Cambridge Community Church as a part-time youth worker, and since the beginning of 2022, as the pastor of youth and worship at Brant Community Church.
Responsible for planning retreats, events and lessons, ministering to teenagers, as well as coordinating songs and leading worship every three weeks, Burke describes the 鈥渂est job he鈥檚 ever had鈥 as 70 per cent ministry and 30 per cent worship.
麻豆视频入口在线观看 was a place where I could see God working in my life and see my faith become my own.
He attributes the passion that God revealed to him as key to how he does his job.
鈥淏ecause I love it, I鈥檓 willing to put in extra hours and work.鈥
This means going above and beyond to be relational and help the teens he encounters feel connected and comfortable.
鈥淭eens appreciate it when you know their names and what they鈥檙e doing, and when you can relate to them. They often have their guard up, but if you can become a friend they open up.鈥
In his role, Burke walks closely with people from Grade 7 through the end of high school. He says, watching them go through such a profound part of life and growth is 鈥渟o interesting,鈥 and witnessing them 鈥渇all in love with their faith and with Jesus鈥 along the way has been 鈥渟o rewarding.鈥
When considering the vocation he has stepped into and thinking about Kingdom impact now and in the future, Burke simply wants God to use him 鈥渉owever he wants to, to see people come to Jesus.鈥
Though Burke never walked away from faith or questioned God during his struggles on the way to discovering his true passion, looking back, he better understands his 鈥渦nconventional鈥 post-secondary journey.
鈥淚 can see God’s ability to put me on the right path to do what I need to do, and I know this is something he will continue doing.鈥
To Burke, this experience was a way to 鈥渇ind accountability and a healthy school-life balance鈥 and 鈥渞ely on God鈥 en route to finding his higher purpose.
鈥溌槎故悠等肟谠谙吖劭 was a place where I could see God working in my life and see my faith become my own. I don鈥檛 regret a minute of it. God smacked me into gear, and I鈥檓 happy with how it turned out.鈥
