When God speaks, you listen. When the Maker of heaven and earth wants to open the flood gates for you, you get out of the way. When the King of kings calls you by name, you respond. You don't delay. You move. You act. You run. What if He's asking you to abandon all you've ever known and ever done to do something else that He's designed and been designing all this time? Do you do it? Do you delay? Well He told me to do just that. And I would be stupid to not listen.
So I'm not longer a teacher. Yep, I left my job in the middle of the school year. I said I would never do something like that to my principal. Leaving at semester would, of course, been ideal I always thought. And I always thought education is where I would spend my career, teaching then one day maybe being a principal. I just started my Masters. Who knew the Lord had other plans?
I was not seeking another job, or another profession for that matter. I was happy at Moore West, happy being an 8th grade Language Arts teacher. I loved teaching with my close friends. But this year was just different. Every year it gets harder to just teach because a lot of time is devoted to disciplining students. Every year there is more responsibility placed on the teacher for what the students should be responsible for. There are more hoops to jump through and the work stacks up. Students who are angels are far and few between. In order to do a good job, stay on top of grading papers and projects, teachers have to work from home. That takes away from time with our own families. Now, I could have been the type of teacher who just walks in and does the bare minimum and goes home, but that's not what I'm about. I want to build successful young adults who are responsible and compassionate. Unfortunately, that is getting hard to do.
Back in early September, Cody asked me one evening if there was anything specific he could pray for me about. Without hesitation I said, "Actually my job. I'm just not sure if I can teach much longer." I have never in eight years seriously asked for direction in what I'm doing for a living. I know I was called to the classroom. I've asked for a sense of renewal. That's what summers are for, right? But never for something that would take me out of the classroom!
About two days after I asked Cody to prayer for me, our friend Bryan Waldenville texted me a job offer to be his administrative assistant at Journey Church. It's not the first time Bryan has offered me a job, but this was the first time I replied with, "What does the job entail?" So we texted back and forth for a bit, but in the end, I would take a pay cut if I left teaching. With both Cody and I working and dependant on both incomes, I would need to maintain the same amount of income in order to leave my job. So I declined. I told Cody that evening about my conversation with Bryan and we just laughed thinking it was interesting I had just requested prayer for my job. We didn't give it another thought after that. But should have known God was up to something.
The very next day, Bryan called with another piece attached to the job offer. It was as a part-time Worship Director. Many of you know I've been singing in worship bands since I was 14. It has always, always been a dream of mine to sing to Jesus as my job. That's what I'm about. Give me a song and I'll raise my hands in awe to the One who created me. The Book of Psalms calls us to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Come on! If I could do that as my job, I'm so there! I'm pretty sure Bryan knew I wouldn't be able to say no with the worship part attached to the job offer. So I told Bryan I needed some time to pray and talk it over with Cody.
About a week later, Cody and I met with Bryan and Pastor Clark, the Founding Senior Pastor, to really talk specifics of the job. It was a great conversation where my husband spoke of his faith in me saying," On a scale from 1 to 10, she's a 15" and "I know she'll knock this job out of the park." He was also protective of my time between the two jobs. Church ministry can be consuming just as teaching is. It was refreshing and encouraging to hear both Pastor Clark and Bryan speak about my abilities and anointing from the Lord. After the meeting, Bryan treated us to dinner and then it was time for some serious prayer and confirmation from the Lord.
Over the next few days, I eagerly and patiently waited for God to move. I told Him I would need Him to spell out what He wanted me to do. He would need to be a resounding gong. I felt like the Lord was asking me to surrender and abandon EVERYTHING I had known for something completely unknown. And He was! I was scared. I was excited. But I was scared! So during my time of fasting and prayer, the Lord brought me a sign in the form of a former student, Morgan Delong.
Morgan stopped by to see me after school. She often does to visit or to ask questions about godly things. Morgan was one of my 8th grade students 4 years ago. She is now a junior in high school. I've led a bible study for her and her friends for the past 2-3 years and she is our babysitter. So, needless to say, God using Morgan was a very good choice considering our history. Morgan and I have bonded because of Jesus. Morgan came to see me that day because God was asking her to abandon all that she knows and surrender it all to Him, so He can move in her life in a bigger way. She was scared, but excited and came to me for some biblical advice. As she's telling me the intimate things the Lord is asking of her and what she is in bondage from, I'm hearing my answer. "Do this and bring glory to Me." Morgan is experiencing the same act of God that I am, the same predicament, the same story just different circumstances. I became overwhelmed and the tears began to flow. I am overtaken, still today, that God used Morgan, not because I taught her Language Arts, but because I showed her Jesus.
So that day, I laid it all down knowing God was going before me to prepare the way as I made my decision to step out of the classroom and tackle something new for the Kingdom. I called Bryan later that day to accept. The next step was to draw up my contract. And then I needed to talk to my principal and my team of teachers.
The next day, I met with my principal, nervous she would not receive my decision well. But she did. Of course, she did. This is God-designed. He has prepared the way for me. With her support and blessing, it was decided I would leave at Fall Break, so I would finish the first quarter with my students. My classes would be dissolved and students dispersed among the other four Language Arts teachers. She reassured me she wants what's best for me professionally and for my family. Actually, the first words out of her mouth were, "Oh, Goodnight, you have to do this."
The next week I told my team. They were shocked and sad, but very supportive. I waited until nearly my last day to announce it to the kids. It wasn't received as well as I had hoped. Many of them were upset and sad which was a surprise to me because they sure didn't act like they liked me to begin with! A few students brought gifts or wrote me letters. One student had a cookie cake made that read, "We Will Miss You Mrs. Goodnight." That was sweetness I will always treasure.
So what exactly am I doing? I am the Campus Ministries Executive Assistant which means I am Pastor Bryan's assistant. He oversees all activities that happen at the Norman Campus (also known as the North Campus) at Journey Church. Those ministries include Pastoral Care, JourneyKids, Student Journey, College Journey, First Impressions, Connections, Journey Groups, Reflect and Loveworks. (I'm still learning all the ministries. I probably left one out...) So Monday through Thursday, I take care of all things administrative for Pastor Bryan. A lot of it is organization, filling out paperwork, scheduling or sitting in meetings, planning events, etc...The other part of my job is being the female Journey Worship Director. This includes Sunday worship services, Awakening on Wednesdays, Reflect, Girlfriends and special worship events. I also get the opportunity to mentor to the female worship volunteers. I'm super excited to start this opportunity to build relationships with the girls on the worship team!
A week has passed into my new job and am I loving it? Yes! Do I miss the classroom? Not at all. I miss my friends, but nothing else.
I spent the first two days shadowing and training with a few stellar ladies who run the offices. Then had to hit the ground running as Pastor Bryan's assistant. Getting Pastor Bryan organized is a laborious blessing, said with love. He really does need someone to help him juggle all his responsibilities! (It's funny now to think Zan, my friend and Bryan's wife, was the one who the Lord gave my name to when they were talking about needing to get Bryan an assistant. Thanks for the "Happy First Week!" flowers, Zan!)
I enjoy the staff, a few I am already friends with and the others I am eager to get to know. What has really made this new career change worthwhile already has been the opportunities to sit and have breakfast with my son before he goes to school and I head to work and then getting to meet my husband for lunch. The extra time I am getting with my boys is a huge blessing. It is priceless. I am realizing I've missed so much with Noah. While teaching school has been rewarding, I've missed chances to be with Noah. It's refreshing to work in a place that guards time with your family and ensures that you guard that time. Often times being a teacher can take away, whether that's intentionally or unintentionally, from your family. That won't happen anymore.
I am eager to begin my work for the Kingdom. Really, that's all I've ever wanted to do - bettering the lives of others, spreading the Good News and sharing the love of God. I'm so thankful God sought me out for this new Journey. Here I am, Lord, send me. May everything I do on this new path bring glory and honor to You.
Mr. and Mrs.
The Three of Us
