God at Work - Rebekah the Attorney

Many of us have been on some difficult mission trips but sometimes our jobs can be harder than them all. Its a different mission altogether. You are there long term. Your coworkers see your failures and are watching how you deal with stress. They see if you give dignity to the people around you and if you get puffed up when receiving praise. And in a post-Christian society it is even harder to openly share Christ in the comings and goings. The following individuals are Christians who daily bring Christ to work. Their focus is doing their job well but leading people into eternity in the process.

Rebekah is Estate Planning/Probate Attorney in Houston, Texas
She is also a home schooled, East Texas transplant who likes her books mysterious and her cheese aged, and who is currently very excited about Brian Regan's upcoming performance in Houston.

What does a normal work day look like?

Every day is different.  (One thing I love/hate about my job. :-) On any given day, I could be drafting a Will, going to probate court, trying to find lost heirs, looking up how to get cremated ashes buried, meeting with clients, or working with banks/insurance companies to get information or claims finalized.

Why do you feel called to work in your field? 

God has given me aptitudes and opportunities that make me well-suited to this field and so I feel that I am able to help people effectively using those skills and abilities that God has given me.

How do you bring Christ into your work?

I try to "always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is in me."  When my clients are unbelievers, it is difficult for me to initiate conversations about Christ, so with them I try to make it my goal to "work as unto the Lord" so that 1) I do good work for clients so that they don't have any grounds for complaint and 2) hopefully conduct myself in such a way that they will see something different in me. When my clients are believers, I often have opportunities to help them accomplish spiritual goals in the planning or administration of their estates.  Often they are very encouraging to me as I see the lives and families they have built around Christ. :-)

Do you have a specific instance where God used you to minister to someone in some way? 

I think the main examples I have of this are in my probate cases. Often my clients have just lost a spouse or other family member and are struggling with having to make important decisions in the midst of their grief.  My job is to provide the information and resources necessary for them to make many of those decisions and to guide them through the process of settling their loved one's affairs.  I think it helps them a lot knowing that they have someone in their corner who will help shoulder the burden.

Are there some struggles with being a Christian at your job? 

As a self-employed person, I thankfully do not deal with any pressure in my workplace.  Also, I'm generally not forced to work with anyone with whom I have fundamental disagreements.  I'd say the biggest struggle I have, is finding a balance between being bold about sharing my faith and conducting myself in a professional manner with clients and business contacts.  Often I rely on people being willing to share very personal information with me in order to do my job.  If I come across as judgmental or disapproving, they are very likely to shut down and just not share = I mess up their Estate Plan and eventually go out of business.  On the other hand, what's more important, me drafting them a Will or them developing a personal relationship with Christ? It's tough. :-)

What advice/encouragement can you offer those struggling with sharing their faith at work.

Harking back to the whole self-employed-work-alone thing, I'm not sure I have a lot to offer in this area.  Just from my interactions with clients, my biggest thing is to try to do my work with excellence.  If I am perceived as lazy or incompetent, I am not going to have any credibility in sharing my faith.

Can you share your favorite work moment with us-funny, proud, dramatic or otherwise! 

It's hard to choose one favorite, but a big one was getting my first client check as a self-employed attorney.  In some ways I felt like I had just pulled a successful con, but it was a really fantastic feeling to think that someone trusted me, as a new attorney, to handle their legal work. :-)

Read More

God at Work - Cat the Air Traffic Controller

Many of us have been on some difficult mission trips but sometimes our jobs can be harder than them all. Its a different mission altogether. You are there long term. Your coworkers see your failures and are watching how you deal with stress. They see if you give dignity to the people around you and if you get puffed up when receiving praise. And in a post-Christian society it is even harder to openly share Christ in the comings and goings. The following individuals are Christians who daily bring Christ to work. Their focus is doing their job well but leading people into eternity in the process.

Cat Lovetro works as an Air Traffic Controller in Houston, Texas. Along with being an ATC, Cat is a former Brooklynite who somehow became a Texan. She's an over-caffeinated avid traveler and struggling polyglot, amateur baseball statistician, who loves reading obscure Wikipedia articles and spending time with Amelia, her Labrador Retriever.


What does a normal work day involve?
A "normal" work day depends on the day. It usually starts VERY early or late in the afternoon. Thursday and Friday nights are very busy, with everyone trying to get away for the weekend. We have "pushes" through the day, which is just like rush hour, everyone is trying to get to the same place at the same time, so you have to take a pile of airplanes and put them in a straight line. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's quite difficult if the weather is acting up. We also have departure pushes where everyone wants to leave at the same time. Weekend mornings are usually pretty quiet, save for college football games which can make small airports get VERY busy for a few hours.

Why do you feel called to work in aviation?
When I was 7, I saw my first space shuttle launch in Florida that's when I knew. I devoured everything I could possibly get my hands on on the topic, and not just space flight, aviation, adventure, and exploration. I can still get lost in an atlas for hours. Anyway, I've been endlessly fascinated by how it keeps the world (and beyond) spinning. I take absolute joy in my job, and the while the hours can be hard, and you miss out on a lot of holidays, family time, etc, I have yet to "work" a day here.

How do you bring Christ into your work?
Its hard. It’s not really something we’re supposed to talk about, not blatantly at least. After a while you get a feel for who else is a Christian and opportunities do present themselves with people who aren’t Christians.

Do you have a specific instance where God used you to minister to someone in some way?
Honestly, sometimes its something as simple as being trustworthy. There can be quite a bit of downtime, which can lead to A LOT of gossip. The ability to keep a secret someone has trusted you with is pretty rare and really sets you apart.

Are there some struggles with being a Christian at your job?
It’s hard to be gracious. Its something I've always struggled with anyway, and being in pressure cooker makes it especially difficult. Air traffic control has a reputation of being the “most stressful job in the world”. While I think that might be a bit of an overstatement, there is a nugget of truth in there and the job certainly has its days. When a bunch of Type - A people are put it a high stress environment and told to work together it can be a madhouse.

I also work in an 85%-90% male environment, working shifts around the clock, sometimes with just one or two other people. It’s important to have appropriate boundaries, and I’ve made it a point to get to know the wives of my co-workers, especially ones I work overnight shifts with.

What advice/encouragement can you offer those struggling with sharing their faith at work.
Be intentional and trustworthy the times you can’t be truly bold. Never be afraid to be honest, but always strive for graciousness. People will begin to trust you and it will provide opportunities. Seize those opportunities when they come along. Be a good employee and co worker. Show up on time and do a good job. That speaks volumes to the people around you.

Can you share your favorite work moment with us-funny, proud, dramatic or otherwise!
I don’t necessarily have one in particular. At least one that wouldn’t involve an hours worth of background explanation. I love my job, and I’m so proud that I have the opportunity to never have to go to “work”.Every time I walk through baggage claim and get to see happy reunions, I'm really thankful I get to help facilitate. I love being able to help a student pilot on their first solo flight. I’m honored to be a part of helping a fallen soldier return home. I’ve been trusted with the life of the President and I get to help train our military pilots and astronauts. I’m responsible for billions of dollars worth of equipment and the lives of tens of thousands of people a day. I take great pride in my small part of making the world go ‘round.

Read More

God at Work - Josh the Hospital Translator

Many of us have been on some difficult mission trips but sometimes our jobs can be harder than them all. Its a different mission altogether. You are there long term. Your coworkers see your failures and are watching how you deal with stress. They see if you give dignity to the people around you and if you get puffed up when receiving praise. And in a post-Christian society it is even harder to openly share Christ in the comings and goings. The following individuals are Christians who daily bring Christ to work. Their focus is doing their job well but leading people into eternity in the process.

Josh is a Spanish Medical interpreter/translator at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Josh is husband to Laurie and Daddy to Mia and Shiloh. He and Laurie teach a Sunday School class to single adults at Houston's First Baptist Church and are both fries connoisseurs.

What does a normal work day involve?
I am the communication bridge for non-English speaking patients with their medical team. I interpret for the doctors/nurses/social workers/chaplains/psychiatrists/etc etc when they need to communicate with a non-English speaking patient that only speaks Spanish.

Why do you feel called to work with Spanish speakers?
I'm not sure if "called" is what I would use, as the Lord could give me a different job not using Spanish and that would be just fine. But the Lord has gifted me with the ability to speak Spanish and I have always wanted to use it in some way. Interpreting is the perfect way to use Spanish in order to help others.

How do you bring Christ into your work?
First, I attempt to do my job with excellence and go above and beyond to assist the patients and medical team. Facing cancer is a very daunting thing, and if I can help them understand I feel I am honoring God in that way.
Secondly, when the door is open to share hope, pray with a patient, or even share about God's goodness in my life- I try to seize that opportunity.
Usually if that happens it is after the interpreting session. But there are some opportunities for that and I have had many patients tell me they are encouraged by my words of encouragement or prayer.
Thirdly, being available for my co workers and attempting to connect with them on a personal level.

I was told once by a patient that throughout the darkness of Cancer, each time I helped them it was light for them on their journey. That truly made my day and let me know that it makes a difference. Any chance I get to pray with a cancer patient- that is a meaningful ministering opportunity.
I am truly blessed to be in that position on a daily basis. Dealing with cancer everyday keeps my troubles in perspective and has given me a more compassionate heart towards suffering.

Are there some struggles with being a Christian at your job?
 The struggle, if any, is handling the amount of "vicarious trauma" I experience on a day to day basis.

What do you mean by vicarious trauma?
I don't have cancer, but I hear about it everyday. I see people lose their loved ones. Sometimes I see more than one death in one day. I deal with pediatric cancer patients too- kids that are the same age as Mia and Shiloh. Although I am only an interpreter, I witness trauma, sadness, and hard cases frequently. Therefore the trauma, if you will, is vicarious. At the end of the day sometimes I have to vent and process with Laurie. Mind you, some of the patients I work with, I have worked with for months or years. So after a while you can get close to them and they become friends. You can do what I do and totally detach yourself emotionally and be somewhat jaded- I still want to show compassion and as a result at times I experience "VT."

What advice/encouragement can you offer those struggling with sharing their faith at work?
I think it's encouraging to know you are not the only one struggling with something. So I would start by saying I TOO struggle with sharing my faith. I would first of all pray for opportunities to share with others. If you pray, then you are looking for God to answer that prayer by providing someone to share with. Lastly, bring up God casually frequently. E.g if someone asks how your weekend was, mention the sermon you heard at church and the nugget you learned. If people ask how you are- go beyond the "fine" and share a bit of your heart. I have had people come up to me: josh I know you go to church and stuff, I need prayer for X, could you pray for me? Attempt to invite co workers to something outside of work. Laurie and I host parties at our home or football watching and we try to invite coworkers.

Can you share your favorite work moment with us-funny, proud, dramatic or otherwise!
I can't think of anything immediately. But, just like I have to give people bad news some days, I also get to give people good news and tell them they beat cancer, or their scans are clean, or you are a survivor, etc. giving people a hug after that news is always great. So being able to share in their joy and be the first to tell them that news is an awesome blessing and privilege.

Read More

God At Work - Allison the Recreational Therapist

Many of us have been on some difficult mission trips but sometimes our jobs can be harder than them all. Its a different mission altogether. You are there long term. Your coworkers see your failures and are watching how you deal with stress. They see if you give dignity to the people around you and if you get puffed up when receiving praise. And in a post-Christian society it is even harder to openly share Christ in the comings and goings. The following individuals are Christians who daily bring Christ to work. Their focus is doing their job well but leading people into eternity in the process.

Allison Hall is a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist at a retirement and long term/memory care facility in Adamstown, Maryland. Along with once petting a tiger, Allison also delights in the fact that she has a Masters in Recreational Therapy from TSU and has traveled to 5 different countries.

What does a normal workday look like?
Haha there's no real "normal" work day. But generally, I plan and do group and one-on-one activities that involve anything from chair exercises to music clubs to various types of games and sensory engagement. I also do assessments, care plans, administrative duties, progress notes, and related meetings.

Why do you feel called to work work with this age group and to do this type of work?
I guess I've always had a soft spot for this population, but within the past year or so that spot has turned into a God-given passion, which has transformed into a gift that I'm honored to have. It's not an easy field, but I find so much joy in being a small part of brightening up their day.

How do you bring Christ into your work?
The good thing about my job is that if I bring up the Lord or anything related and they don't agree or like talking about it, I don't have to worry about offending them because they will most likely forget about it 10 minutes later haha. It does help, however, that a large number of my residents were raised with some sort of church background and are open to the topic. Just the other day I did an entire activity of Sunday school song karaoke and they loved it bc it brought back fond memories for them. So I'm not outright preaching the gospel, but I do sneak in a simple mindset on God through casual conversation and memory activities. And that's enough for them, since at this stage they aren't capable of having deep, spiritual conversations.
Also, I try to show godly living to my coworkers through my actions and words, just by how I live on a daily basis. They've asked me why I've been all over the world and how I pay for it (mission trips and support raising) and how I'm able to still be a virgin and not just go to bars, get drunk, and date around. Again, not outright preaching, but more so setting an example that makes them curious and think.

Do you have a specific instance where God used you to minister to someone in some way?
this past summer I was a private caregiver for an elderly lady and every now and then she would randomly become anxious about what was going to happen when she died. I would talk with her about the Lord and what salvation really means and how you know if you're saved. I would also pray with her in those times. She had dementia, so I'm not sure if it really stuck, but at least I know the truth was spoken to her at some point.

Are there some struggles with being a Christian at your job?
I wouldn't say I've had any more struggles as any other Christian living in a secular world. Sure, there are times I wish I had someone to talk to at work that has the same Kingdom mindset, and I'm sometimes faced with crude language or invites to get drunk after work, but I try to take it in stride and keep living the way He's called me to. It's just part of the whole "we're called to live in the world, not of the world" thought process that I keep reminding myself.

What advice/encouragement can you offer those struggling with sharing their faith at work.
You should never be concerned or scared about being yourself around people. If you're living for God and really want those around you to know His heart, then they should be able to see it in your regular day-to-day life. Be a living testimony to His goodness. You don't necessarily have to stand up in the middle of your office and yell something like "I love Jesus yes I do, I love Jesus, how bout you" (Unless you're a cheerleader coach at a Christian school....then go for it!) in order to spread the gospel. You'd probably receive a lot of backlash. Sometimes living a sincere, loving, graceful life can speak louder and people will notice and wonder. Usually, it's not until people see the benefit and positive outcomes in another's life that they will be more receptive to hearing the truth. But, aside from that, just listen to the Lord, not your own ideas of what needs to happen. He's working on your coworker's hearts too. He'll lead you in timing and words for sharing your faith with those who have ears to hear.

Can you share your favorite work moment with us-funny, proud, dramatic or otherwise!
Ahh that's a hard question!!! I have a new favorite moment everyday! There are moments of personal triumphs of getting that tough resident to smile or come to an activity. And then the funny moments....literally every happens all the time. Way too many stories to share! That's what makes my job so fun!
So I was walking around the building where I'm about to start a new job, giving myself a tour and meeting some of the residents. I go to the dementia-specific unit, walk into one of the smaller activity rooms, and see a woman sitting there working on a puzzle. I say "Hi there, how are you doing?!" and immediately she shoots back with "Well, I'm good but I'm just about to pass gas. You don't want to come over here." ....they kind of lose their filter the older they get. And I love it!

Read More

Sanity is Underrated and other Lessons from Riding the Bus

My decision to ride the bus for a year was for a few reasons:

1) Although I own a car, I wanted to save gas money and prevent wear and tear (especially helpful since City of Houston pays for employees to ride the bus for free)

2) It would help me learn the discipline of managing my time better and walking more

3) Most importantly, (and the reason I took the bus more than my year commitment) I wanted to love on and share Christ with a friend. 

What I discovered is that it would take a lot more than my initial reasons to keep my commitment.

I want to tell you more about my friend a little later (let's call him Albert), but for now I'm going to share a few of the harder (and more peculiar) lessons I learned.

1) Riding the bus is humbling

The people who ride the bus come from every ethnicity, social status, religion, and economic background. You will sit with them, smell them, and sometimes accidentally fall on them (in the case of unexpected brakings or exceptionally sharp turns lol!) whether you like it or not, you will share uncomfortable moments with these strangers and in those moments you will be reminded that you are not that much different than them. Most people just want to get to their destination and not be bothered, but there are wonderful moments (usually when the crazy on the bus starts rapping or hitting a window) that you break the silence and share a short conversation with your neighbor about avoiding the crazy and then that leads to the topic of your destination and then on to life purpose and on and on. It's humbling that God uses weird moments and unexpected places to share Him with others. In fact to God there are no weird moments and no unexpected places.

2) God made the immune system one of our strongest tools

Along with riding the bus, I also work at the biggest public library in the city...which means that I wash my hands a lot. Sneezing, farting, hacking up a lung... You name it, I've been around it and touched what they've touched. In fact I got majorly sick two times- back to back shortly after taking the job and had to borrow sick time. But since then I've only had little sick days here and there. I'm around a multitude of infections, diseases, and bacterias but I'm healthier than ever! Its like my body was building up this intense shield! And on the bus there are no ways to avoid the germs-you got to hold on to something to not fall over. This isn't some dark magic that's preventing me from getting infected -Its God's design! 

3) Sanity is underrated
COUNTLESS times have I encountered the crazy on the bus. Yes, that was singular....its rare that they'd come in packs... even they recognize that they can't handle each other. Seriously, if you haven't thanked God for your mental and emotional sanity today then stop right now and do it. Really. Do it.
The fact that you and I have social intelligence and that we can recognize our surroundings and adjust appropriately is a gift and a valuable skill. Our mental capacity of soaking up the meanings of direction, texture, limits, how cheese is made, etc....Its Incredible! Your ability to express healthy emotion and react to stimuli that strikes your heart....is nothing short of amazing. I can testify over and over that not all people have these skills. Thank God for your sanity today.

4) Kindness is a currency 
We live in the age of personal rights. It would be better to call them selfish rights....meaning "I deserve this because I was born...but I don't care if it trumps your rights or hurts society as a whole." I wish you could see me shaking my head right now. Therefor kindness, gentleness, humility, and self-sacrifice are rare commodities. I've been on buses multiple times when they were packed to the brim- not even standing room and then a woman and child or old woman would enter and NO ONE offered their seat. I've been on buses where all those that were sitting were men and the 5 or 6 standing were all women. Common decency is in dire supply. In Matthew 25 God says that we serve Him by showing kindness to the "least of these." Kindness is beautiful especially when you see it in action. There are beautiful moments when in freezing cold rain an Indian business man offers his seat to a young mother or when two college guys move so that the woman in the wheelchair can lock into the disabled space. On the bus, kindness is an offering.

5) Jesus would have ridden the bus
I was raised to believe that Jesus didn't have a system of valuing one human being over the other. In the words of Rich Mullins "God doesn't have any taste." In God's economy we are all equal. He loves us each the same. And in the same mode of thought- he doesn't have any care for materialism. He wouldn't need a car. He wanted to be around His people....and He is designing Heaven to be with His people. Fellowship and intimacy with God is the end all be all. I think If he were still here in human form He would ride the bus. He would give up his seat to the working mom. He would calm the inner workings of the crazy's mind. He would fascinate the college kids with stories of His days with Peter, James, and John.

Lastly, I wanted to tell you about Albert- the reason I kept riding the bus.
Albert is an older Jewish man. He lives alone and leads a pretty simple life. He LOVES baseball....really ask him anything! His accent is as New Yorker as it gets. He moved to Houston many years ago and has had the same job the whole time. Albert is the type of man who doesn't make too much of himself. He just doesn't value being puffed up or wasting time on crap (my word not his). Albert is a good man.

When I started working downtown, God surprised me with Albert's friendship. He's not the type of man that you join for trivia at the local wings joint. I knew that if I had one purpose while working there that it would be to genuinely care about Albert. I knew that he wasn't the type of person that you can just spout off the gospel too and then be on your merry way. It was going to take time, building trust, investing in kindness, and sharing of myself to really be invited into Albert's life. I want Albert to know the God of the universe- who cares for his every need. Who shares his pains. Who delights in Him! I wanted to share Christ with Him- by showing Him the character of Christ. This meant taking the bus with Him. It didn't matter if the bus was dirty or weird things happened or we had to wait 20 minutes in the rain each day... what mattered was Albert seeing Jesus in action.

Since riding the bus with Albert, we have talked about God many times. We've been to a messianic Jewish meeting. We've shared burgers together.  He has shyly admitted praying for a husband for me! ha ha! Its a slow process of showing Him a full picture of Christ's lover for him. My heart is to see him have a relationship with Christ. I will celebrate the day he makes that decision! Until then, I will continue to share Jesus with him with timely words, with caring actions, and a hopeful heart.

Read More