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I remember sitting in the Willow Creek auditorium listening to Bill Hybels talk about the need for more people to leave the workforce and start working for the local church. I thought it was a good message for many of the people sitting around me.
Little did I know back in January, 1984 how fortunate I really was. I was working for a fortune 100 company. I was energetic with a can do positive attitude. My work ethics and confidence helped to place me on the management career track. I spent many hours working, training and traveling. It was not uncommon to put in 70 to 80 hours per week.
Things changed. I got married, had kids and came to know Christ as my personal savior. My perspective changed. I didn’t have time to work 70 to 80 hours a week, but I wanted to provide for my family now and in the future. After 16 years of blood, sweat and tears with this company my roots were deeply entrenched. Life was good. I didn’t worry about finances or college for the kids. Now came my most difficult decision; my “cheese” had been moved but I didn’t know it. When God presented me with the opportunity at Lakeside Church, it was almost too much. Our family had moved three times in four years; four different company positions as well as other opportunities.
The difficulty came from not knowing and not being in control. We had trusted in God and he had been faithful every time. This time was unlike any other; it was a career change, a family change and a step in faith that we hadn’t taken before.
In seeking counsel with Lakeside’s Senior Pastor Brad Franklin I was asked one question. “At what time do you quit climbing the corporate ladder and start climbing the Kingdom ladder?” Ouch!
Many times we look outside our own four walls for the next hire. So I have to ask the question; who in your church is that next potential hire, but they don’t know it yet?
Mike Klockenbrink is chief of staff at Lakeside Church, Folsom, CA.
[ www.lakesidechurch.com]