Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Everyday Black Matters

Home
Progressive Christian
Minister Mama No More

Minister Mama No More

Last updated on: September 21, 2012 at 9:33 pm by Grace Sandra

Minister Mama No More 2012-09-21T21:33:09-04:00 Grace Sandra

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Seems to me when we flip our lives right side up we move in fear and when we flip our lives upside down we move in foolishness.

In the last little while I’ve flipped in fear and foolishness.

Allow me please, to tell you how I’ve flipped life right side up in fear…

Many of my old readers know this, but for the sake of my new ones and the beauty of forthrightness I thought I’d finally blog about why I left my employment with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

Leaving InterVarsity wasn’t just leaving my favorite job ever, it was leaving family. InterVarsity practically raised me. I still love InterVarsity with all my heart.

In the midst of leaving, I left my online identity, “Minister Mama” behind. Remember her? <——————-

(Actually, the “Minister Mama” signature still lingers on many of my posts).

Most importantly, I left something that had been one of the most cherished things in my life for 16 years.

I left something that my identity had been all wrapped up in.

I left the place where my husband is also dutifully employed.

I left the place where…everybody knows my name.

I left an organization where I absolutely adored 99 out of every 100 people who work there.

I left my vocational calling, as I have known and recognized it for most of my adult life.

I left a job that I loved.

I left a group of college students who were so amazing.

I left a job where I was consistently called upon for leadership, asked to step up, had consistently advanced in line leadership every 2-3 years and where my thoughts, opinions and ideas were valued across the board.

I left a place where I could have potentially held a National leadership position.

I left InterVarsity with no replacement income. The decision to leave was made in April. My supervisor and I decided that I’d end my employment on July 15, 2012.

I left fearful about where my next paycheck was coming from. Would I be able to find work after being in “Christian Ministry” for 12 years?!

I left terrified, but choosing to trust the Lord for this next stage of life.

I left because I was struggling with so many things.

I left because as long as Dave and I have been married, we have been working on InterVarsity staff together. To put it bluntly, working together had become poison to us. It felt like sitting in a bathtub of scorching hot acid. Day after day after long, obnoxious day.

I left because the the travel was too much, too inconsistently.

I left because the workload was too much.

I left because the stress was too much.

I left because not having an office outside of our tragically and perpetually messy-beyond-imaging home was too much.

I left because of the stress of fundraising a six-figure budget each year.

Honestly, I’ve handled all of these stresses and more over the years and I probably could have stayed if in addition to all of that my inner world wasn’t absolutely falling apart. Not due just to the major depression I’ve faced on and off for 6 years, but temptations and poor personal and financial choices as well.

So. With faith and trembling on July 15 I said goodbye. I chose my sanity and family over ministry.

A month earlier a friend passed on my resume to a hiring organization. Shockingly & remarkably they took me on. I started a full-time position for a non-profit foundation on July 16.

I started on July 16. Exactly ONE DAY after my last paid day for IV. I literally did not have one single unpaid day in July or in the job transition. Period.

I am still flabbergasted at God’s provision.

I gained empowerment.

I gained a better relationship with Dave.

I gained a consistent schedule.

I gained an office on the campus I’d been working at for 12 years —the irony!

I gained new students to interact with.

I gained courage over my fear.

I’ve gained the experience of stepping out of my comfort zone. Invaluable.

I gained trust in me.

I needed to know that it was okay to trust my intuition that I needed to leave…

…and I did.

I trusted me.

I trusted God.

Previous Post

September 18, 2012

Is My Blog MY Platform or God's Platform?

Next Post

October 1, 2012 Meet Fred.

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abuse Survivor African Americans Black Campus Ministries Blogging Books Celebrities Depression Detroit Divorce Dreams entrepreneurialista Family Fashion Fashion & Hair Fashion Finds Fashion Tips Fitness & Body Love For You Girly-Girl Giveaways! Goal Setting Hair Adventures Home Human Trafficking Humor & Fun InterVarsity iphone Apps iphoneography Leadership Marriage Memoir Mentoring Movies Music My Faith My Life My Pregnant Life My Weight Watcher's Journey Netizen One Word Opinion Parenting Photography Policy Politics Pop Culture Product Reviews Race & Ethnicity Racism Ransom Rhys Second Marriage Self Leadership Social Justice Social Media Spiritual Disciplines T.V. Uncategorized Western Theological Seminary What I Wore What I Wore Wednesday Writing Writing Tips

Select a Month May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 December 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 July 2015 June 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz