New Job Eve

james eaton
Jul 24, 2017 · 4 min read

I am sitting at my kitchen table this evening filling out paperwork for taxes, direct deposits, retirement, and all kinds of other documents that need my signature. Why I am doing this? Because tomorrow morning…

I. Start. My. New. Job. At. Highlands. Fellowship.

I have only had a couple full-time jobs in my working career (2 to be exact).

My first job right out of college was as a graphic designer and photo editor for Tina Wilson Photography. Tina has been a great friend over the years, and it was a wonderful place to begin my working career. I spent about 8 hours a day in Photoshop (a skill that I still use on a daily basis) and became pretty good at editing photos for clients. I had to learn how to edit in someone else’s style; something that is much easier said than done! Tina was patient with me and we spent hours looking through old photos, making collages, and giving a visual to the visual brand that was Tina Wilson Photography. It was a great gig right out of college.

After a year of TWP, I transitioned on to the staff of Indian Springs Baptist Church. I started as the student worship director and a graphic designer for the student ministry. By March of 2012, I was at ISBC in a full time capacity. It was my home church growing up and I swore that I would NEVER work there…. (side note. Go ahead and tell God all the things your “not going to do” and see what happens. I swore I would never move back home, work at my home church, or have children quickly after getting married. That’s 3 for 3 if you’re keeping score at home). It was an exciting transition as ISBC had just launched a second location and I was able to help improve their stream services and sermon delivery. We ultimately landed on a Teaching Team model, and I eventually transitioned into the Creative Director role for most of my time at Indian Springs. Here are a list of other jobs that I held in some capacity while I was employed at ISBC: graphic designer, student band leader, trip planner and organizer, assistant to the Student Pastor, Interim Student Pastor (for around 8 months on top of my “regular job”), Production Director, Pro Presenter know-it-all, videographer, website designer, IT help desk, manager of all-things-google, sound engineer, Worship Leader, music producer, Creative Director, branding and content creator, social media manager, Planning Center aficionado, and really whatever anyone needed of me. That is a real list; I did all those things (and more).

While I was at ISBC I became a father (to Lionel and then Emmylou 13 months later. No, not on purpose. Yes, we know how that happens…), moved 5 times, became a home owner, and experienced the highs and lows of ministry work. It was not always easy, but God was faithful in each of those seasons over the last 6 years.

As I sit here and reflect tonight, I am reminded of my first day at Indian Springs. I was young, excited, naive (aren’t we all at 22?), and full of ideas.

I am entering into a new season tomorrow as the Online Director for Highlands Fellowship. I’m 28 years old with experience, scars (ministry work is hard. If someone says it’s easy, they are lying), ideas, and excitement. For a moment I am transported back to that 22 year old who had no idea what’s going to happen next. If feels like stepping out of the boat into the unknown water. I am unsure, nervous, excited, scared, excited (did I say that already?), and ultimately ready to take this next step with my wife and children. Our little tribe may be small, but we are strong together.

So, here’s to new beginnings and a fresh start. I am not as young as I once was, but I have plenty of life left inside this body and enough ideas in my brain to keep me busy for months!

I am also reminded of something Mark Estepp said in his message this weekend. He shared the story of when the disciples encountered a storm on the sea as Jesus slept in the back of the boat. He offered a very timely remark about the chaos and storms that come up in our own life.

Give God your chaos, and he will give you His calm — Mark Estepp

So, that’s what I am going to do this week. Give God all the chaos (internal and external), and accept His calm. The presence of Jesus is not the absence of struggle or difficulty; the presence of Jesus is the power to make it through those storms because my trust is in something greater than myself.

Ok, enough rambling. Let’s do this.

hf.church
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