Following God’s Call Beyond Retirement

By Dean Collins

As I write this devotional, I am five months away from my retirement as president of Point University on June 30, 2025. I made my retirement announcement back in September of last year so that the board of trustees had ample time to do a national search for Point University’s next president.

Ever since that day, I have had dozens of people congratulate me and ask me what I will be doing in my retirement. Maybe some of you are wondering as well. Here are my three answers:

First, I will continue to work wherever God directs me. I am retiring from the presidency but not from my calling. Second, the board of trustees have asked me to accept the role of chancellor at Point University, which is a part-time position focused on strategic partnerships as well as being an ambassador for the university. My third answer is that I will wait and see what doors God opens to me.

Over the last five months, I have been surprised to be asked to serve on various nonprofit boards and have even been asked to consider becoming the president of other Christian organizations. My standard answer is that I will pray about it.

There are two passages of scripture that I am drawn to in this season of life:

 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV

“For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:12 ESV

I want to share with you one thing that I will be doing the first twelve days of October this year. Along with fellow Point alumnus, Cam Huxford, I will be leading a trip to Turkey and Greece where we will explore cities associated with the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. As we tour Ephesus, Pergamum, Thessaloniki, Philippi, Athens, Corinth, and make other stops, Cam and I, along with retired professor and church planter, Tom Jones, will share devotional thoughts and scripture perspectives about the events in the Bible that took place in these very places.

I was probably seventeen years old when I memorized the verses that Paul wrote while he was in Corinth to the church he had established in Thessaloniki: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” It will be a thrill to study these journeys of Paul more deeply in the coming months as I prepare for this trip. For more information about this trip please visit my devotional website, or I would love for you to join me if that fits in your plans.

Just a couple of weeks ago a new friend said a prayer for me as I move into the next phase of my life and ministry. In her prayer she quoted from Isaiah 55:12, that God would lead me as I go out of my role as president with joy and be led forth to new adventures in God’s peace. I instantly resonated with this passage. It might be my theme verse for this year.

Because of the gift of life that comes to us in Christ, we can do what Isaiah told the exiles as they left exile and traveled back to their homeland. Paul’s instructions to the church in Thessaloniki carries a similar message. We are called to embrace each day the Lord gives us by rejoicing in the gift of salvation that we have received. And as we live each day, we are to pray and give thanks for each blessing that comes to us as we are led by God’s Spirit into places we might serve.

So today we pray: Lord, we rejoice in the gift of this day and this season of life you have granted us. We pray for our family, our friends, our churches, and for the cities where we live. Use us to bring salt and light to these places that others might come to know the joy we have in Christ. Today, Lord, help us to go out in joy and go forth in the peace of Christ. Thank you for the many opportunities of service ahead of us today and every day. In Jesus’ name, amen.