Testimony
Many years ago, in the mid to early 90's during my quiet time, God spoke to me. He spoke to me just as plain as if you and I were sitting across from each other. He said to me, "come do My work". I answered, "what?"! He said to me once again, "come do My work". I laughed and said back to Him, "You do have a sense of humor!".
Now understand, in this little pea brain, doing His work meant being on staff at a church! Either as a pastor, music, youth, or education minister... that was the extent of my thinking of a staff. (Yes, I've never been a member of a large church!!)
So, this went on for several months, "come do My work" was said to me on a daily basis. Looking back it amazes me just how patient the Good Lord was with me. As a father, had one of my children "argued" with me like this there would be serious problems in this household!! But God can be so very patient, and each day he would tell me, "come do My work", but I would always have an excuse...
Music is definitely out, I can't carry a tune in a bucket...
Pastor, sure, me get up in front a crowd and speak... uh-huh, yeah right!!
Youth, well, I do enjoy working with youth, as I was on the Youth committee, and chaired the committee while we were without a youth pastor. Naw... I did not want that job.
Education? Well... I know nothing about education programs and methods and such.
Speaking of education, I told God that He knew I didn't have a college degree, much less an education from a seminary! What church would hire me without a Master's degree, or at least be working towards one.
What also made it even more confusing to me was there has never been any doubts that God gave me the career that I had for years, Information Technology... computers! He gave me a love, a natural ability to learn and understand computers, and why was He now telling me to change careers to being on staff of a church?
So, to make a longer story not quite as long, after about 3 months of making excuses, I started giving in over about the span of a week... "Ok God, if you want me to do your work, then You will need to provide for me and my family, provide the education...". I was now starting to agree, but with provisions!
But God kept telling me "come do My work". And now He was really working on me... and finally I gave in and said "OK Lord, I will do Your work".... no conditions. no provisions, I'll just follow You on faith!!
His response.... "You do know there are computers in My work?"
My face lit up, and a big smile came across my face... "Now that I can do!!!"
About a year or so later, the company I was working for decided to close down. Within a month I had found another job as a Software Support Manager, and I wondered about my "calling", as this job was with an Insurance Company. But as hind sight is 20/20, I now see that He needed to teach me, to prepare me for what he wanted me to do. This is where I was introduced to programming with PC's and the web. And, even though when I was "arguing" with God I used the excuse of lack of education, He did give me the opportunity to go back to school and get a degree.
Once again, in 2002, the company I was working for decided to close down. There is no fun in turning out the lights on your last day for a second straight time, something I pray daily that I never have to do again.
So during this time of economic downturn, I looked for a job along with thousands of other IT professionals. Knowing that God wanted me to do his work, I concentrated on Christian organization, but looked for His leadership. I had numerous interviews, but the doors always closed.
I didn't realize at the time, but I was giving God one more obstacle that He had to lead me through. I've never had any desire to start and own a business, and I still didn't during this unemployment period. For 2 years, God kept closing doors until I would once again remember to put my total faith in His leadership.
Someone asked me "why don't you just start your own business?", and of course I said "nawwwwww". But that question stuck with me, and I prayed and prayed about it, and felt I was being led in that direction.
And guess what? God opened those doors, and strongly confirmed to me to go forward. I asked Jaime to help me with the business, and it was becoming clear God was giving her the same thoughts and ideas that He was giving me.
And that brings us to today, and to Sanctuary Technologies. A company that the Almighty has brought to me, and I am here to serve Him in whatever capacity He desires.
Jimmy Epperson
Sanctuary Technologies