Week one of the new job is in the books. I can't believe how it has flown by. Each day I have spent time in different "rotations," working in the various departments and facilities owned and operated by the Roanoke Rescue Mission. On Day 1 I worked at the main reception desk and quickly realized how little I knew about the place, as time and again I answered phone callers' questions with "let me see if I can find someone who can answer that for you." Since then I have toured and helped out in all three of the Mission's thrift stores, it's art gallery and café, the Women's and Children's Center (homeless shelter), and it's free clinic. Last night I attended a networking dinner and today there was lunch with the Chamber of Commerce staff. The week capped off with Rally, the weekly Friday afternoon event to worship God and celebrate the accomplishments of men and women in the Mission's renowned recovery program. I What a privilege to get to work in this place, where lives are being transformed on a daily basis! Next week I will spend a full day with the Recovery program and another day split between the men's shelter and kitchen services, before finally starting in my position as Director of Development on December 1.
In each of my rotations, I have been warmly welcomed by people who are so passionate about what they do that it's contagious. Some of them are themselves success stories of the recovery program, eager to share their own stories of transformation. Others have given up more lucrative careers because they find their work in this ministry to be so rewarding.
The Roanoke Rescue Mission is an amazing place with amazing people, but it's all because of our amazing God. He made that even clearer to me on Tuesday at the Distribution Recycling Center, where I spent my afternoon. The DRC is the building which processes all the items dropped off at the donation centers. Clothing and shoes are sorted for distribution to the various thrift stores, appliances are tested and, if necessary, repaired. Kitchenware, toys, pillows and linens are cleaned and sanitized. Simply put, it is command central for making all the donated items ready for thrift store shelves.
Back to what God did. You see, I launched my career in TV news from that building when I was fresh out of college. It was Cox Cable at the time, and I reported and anchored a 5-minute local news cut-in on CNN Headline News called Roanoke Headline News. Tuesday, when I walked into the DRC's toy room, I realized it was my old news studio. As memories came flooding back, God whispered Isaiah 43:19 into my heart. "See, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it?"
With that verse he reassured me yet again that just as that old abandoned building has been repurposed and brought back to life with this vital Rescue Mission ministry, God has also repurposed me and my talents for his kingdom work. Allowing me to re-launch into professional life from the very place where I got my start was a brilliant reminder of what God will do when I surrender my will to his.
I just love it when God does stuff like this, and I kind of think he takes delight in seeing his children with our minds blown when we actually connect the dots. I'm picturing him with a big ole grin on his face. He sure has put one on mine!
P.S. The Roanoke Rescue Mission operates solely through donations and with the help of about 5000 volunteers. If you would like more information, like us on Facebook and check out the website to see how you can get involved! http://rescuemission.net/
Friday, November 21, 2014
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Be Careful What You Ask For!
Inadequate. Unskilled. Old.
Just a few of the words that kept running through my mind as I prepared my resume. "Who would want me?" It was the question I lamented over and over until I eventually belittled myself into a tearful mess, and finally, at my wits' end, cried out to God.
"If you expect me to do anything meaningful at all, you're going to have to just drop it into my lap because it will never happen otherwise!"
Friends, don't dare God to do something unless you truly, sincerely mean it. Fortunately I did, because he did. Drop something into my lap. Literally, and so fast my head has not stopped spinning.
On a whim I responded to a job posting on Craigslist. A week later I was interviewed by phone. Five days after that I went for a face-to-face, where I was told before the interview even started that I was the person they wanted to hire so we would just use the interview time for me to ask whatever questions I might have. I was then invited to sit it on two meetings and meet the staff.
When, how, does that even happen?! If that's not God dropping something into your lap then I don't know what is!
Another visit ensued (which deserves a blog post of its own), references were contacted, and earlier this week a formal offer was made and accepted.
On Monday, after 17 years as a stay-at-home mom, I will re-enter the full-time work force as the Director of Development for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. I couldn't be more humbled and excited that God would allow me to combine my professional skills with my passion for ministry to lost and hurting people. I asked, and God delivered in a big way!
It's going to be a huge adjustment for our family, and to say that I'm a little scared would be quite the understatement. But because God has done this, I know he will be in the details. How blessed I have been to have had a wonderful, fulfilling career as a TV news reporter, then the opportunity to be at home to raise my family, and now this chance to finally pursue the ministry calling that God placed on my heart six years ago. I always believed it would happen some way, somehow. Suddenly, the studies, the trainings, the experiences, and the people in crisis who have "randomly" shown up in my life through the years all make sense. I am not inadequate, unskilled, old (okay maybe a little old) because God has been teaching me and preparing me all these years...for such a time as this.
Just a few of the words that kept running through my mind as I prepared my resume. "Who would want me?" It was the question I lamented over and over until I eventually belittled myself into a tearful mess, and finally, at my wits' end, cried out to God.
"If you expect me to do anything meaningful at all, you're going to have to just drop it into my lap because it will never happen otherwise!"
Friends, don't dare God to do something unless you truly, sincerely mean it. Fortunately I did, because he did. Drop something into my lap. Literally, and so fast my head has not stopped spinning.
On a whim I responded to a job posting on Craigslist. A week later I was interviewed by phone. Five days after that I went for a face-to-face, where I was told before the interview even started that I was the person they wanted to hire so we would just use the interview time for me to ask whatever questions I might have. I was then invited to sit it on two meetings and meet the staff.
When, how, does that even happen?! If that's not God dropping something into your lap then I don't know what is!
Another visit ensued (which deserves a blog post of its own), references were contacted, and earlier this week a formal offer was made and accepted.
On Monday, after 17 years as a stay-at-home mom, I will re-enter the full-time work force as the Director of Development for the Roanoke Rescue Mission. I couldn't be more humbled and excited that God would allow me to combine my professional skills with my passion for ministry to lost and hurting people. I asked, and God delivered in a big way!
It's going to be a huge adjustment for our family, and to say that I'm a little scared would be quite the understatement. But because God has done this, I know he will be in the details. How blessed I have been to have had a wonderful, fulfilling career as a TV news reporter, then the opportunity to be at home to raise my family, and now this chance to finally pursue the ministry calling that God placed on my heart six years ago. I always believed it would happen some way, somehow. Suddenly, the studies, the trainings, the experiences, and the people in crisis who have "randomly" shown up in my life through the years all make sense. I am not inadequate, unskilled, old (okay maybe a little old) because God has been teaching me and preparing me all these years...for such a time as this.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)