Job transition is very personal life event.  While we may like to try to compartmentalize it, to “balance” it out with other aspects of life, or to just “power through” it, the ever-present need for a job stays with us. 

Yet job transition doesn’t need to consume us.  It’s incredibly important, for many reasons, but to keep a holistic perspective isn’t just healthy, it’s necessary!

One member of our North Coast Church / Crossroads Career ministry is Quinton Hufferd…and his family.  I met Quinton virtually in our inaugural Crossroads Career small group, and he quickly demonstrated what a “blended” view of job transition could look like.  With a 4th child born into their family just a couple weeks after being laid off from his work, here are a few extracts from his December “Hufferd Family Update:”

“Work looks a little different now…balancing Franklin’s sleep needs, virtual kindergarten for Lucie, play time outdoors, snacks and meals, naps for Ashlie, ‘rough fighting’ with the three older kids, and drives around town to keep the adults sane amid a pandemic is a lot of work.

Still, we’ve been in a season of unexpected job transition for two months.  I have been able to network with amazing and talented professionals, for which it is my honor to know, and received encouragement and mentorship.

With 17+ years of experience in a combination of corporate, nonprofit, and ministry organizations, it’s been difficult to nail down an industry for me next.  I’m opening as many doors as I can, then giving it over to God to close them. I’m looking for value alignment, a great cause/mission, solid stewardship practices, and a place to grow.

To stay in growth mode, I am about to complete an eight-week course in career planning through Crossroads Career and North Coast Church.  It’s been an outstanding program and group.  We meet weekly with HR professionals, discover biblical principles and perspectives for the career search process, provide emotional and spiritual support, and dig deep into workshopping resumes, cover letters, interview prep, etc.

I am genuinely excited about the next chapter of my career.  I look forward to a position that allows me to motivate, inspire, and direct growth opportunity and change.”

Quinton also included a reference to Matthew 6:25-34.  Here’s what verses 33 and 34 have to say:  “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Quinton’s story is one of many that we could share…where we recognize how God can be with us every step of the way…if we seek, we will find.  As we close out 2020, we’re grateful for what we saw God do through Crossroads Career to help people find Jesus and find a job.  We’re excited about what He is laying out before us for 2021.  Read more about both in our year-end report.

Dave Sparkman currently serves as the volunteer Crossroads Career board chair and local ministry leader. He is also the founder and managing director of Spark Your Culture, a corporate culture consulting firm. Prior to that he worked at UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune #5 public company, serving in the role of Chief Culture Officer. His unemployment experience came from the implosion of Arthur Andersen, where he served as the West Region Managing Partner, People.