Accept Your Identity

Many years ago as high school graduate, I was confident that my career path was to be a lawyer. I had declared a college major in political science and was excited to begin working toward my goals. After the first semester of college I faced the reality that I disliked every single political science class I had and that I really didn’t like school in general. The thought of earning a degree in the most boring subject in the world and having to endure three additional years of graduate school seemed like torture. I felt lost.

Why did this happen? Like many other youth, I was naïve, misinformed, and making decisions based on all the wrong things. I relied on the expectations of others, potential income, and respect of my peers to make a decision. I should have relied on my personal interests, God given talents and abilities, and overall happiness. My real problem was that I did not consult God or even consider who he wanted me to be when picking a major and future profession.

It was difficult over the next couple of years to find my place. I changed my major and earned a degree in History. Shortly after graduation, I gave up on finding a job in my field and took the first job I could get in sales. More importantly, I gave up on trying to go my own way and rededicated my life to Jesus. It turns out I was a good salesman and through hard work, I moved up the career ladder and achieved great success. In addition, I received some of the best business training in the world and learned about how to run a business and manage customers and employees.

Over the Next 15 years, my faith grew and my trust in the lord strengthened. When we follow God, our time and experiences are never wasted. God used my experience selling cell phones and copy machines, renting cars, marketing Pharmaceuticals and medical devices to build my resume. Not for the next big step in my career, but the for the next step of faith in his service for his kingdom.

In the fall of 2013, I lost my job In medical device sales representative due to company downsizing. Over the next couple months I felt the Lord calling me to something different. As I wrestled with God, I started to see how my professional success had influenced my choice of which where I lived, my friends and acquaintances, and my overall happiness. I remembered that my identity is not in my job title or bank account balance, but in Christ. The Lord changed my heart and I accepted my new identity in Christ. I was obedient to his call to serve in full time ministry as an administrator at Covenant Christian School. Full time ministry has it’s peaks and valleys and I grew more in my relationship with God. During my time at Covenant, I had the summers off and was able to do short term mission trips to Budapest, Hungary and participate in English camps for kids. After 4 great school years and two trips to Hungary, God called my family in a new and exciting direction.

The Next Step for my family is to be Missionaries in Budapest, Hungary. My wife and I will work together As Social Entrepreneurship Coordinators. We will be doing Business as missions and establishing and managing business related projects that build relationships with others, provide value to the community, and create income for additional ministry.

I never would have dreamed in High School that I would live in Budapest, be a missionary, and use my business skills in business as missions. It is truly amazing how God can use your talents to do his work anywhere in the world when you let Him. Don’t let the things of this world define you. Don’t let the perception of others influence your worthiness to be used by God. Accept the person God made you to be and always be ready to serve Him when he calls. What is he calling you to do?

Working at Covenant Christian School