called to the market place

So the Christian Business Fellowship session with Corey Cleek just finished. I actually turned out to be very good. I'm glad I came- I believe that everything happens for a purpose, that my steps are ordered, and I know I it was purpose that brought me here- at this particular point in my life.

I mentioned in my last entry that Corey is a MBA from Duke and is very heavy in the business world- he's into the Internet/ tech environment and has worked at such giants as Amazon and EBay.

Some of the things he said really hit home to me. He spoke about knowing that he was called to the market place. But to reach this realization, he had to really struggle. Traditionally, ministry was not necessarily perceived as being outside the church. But he knew he had a passion for business- that he was 'wired' that way. I totally understand that- from my earliest memories, I remember being fascinated by business- the running and organization and creation of it. Most kids pretend to be a fire-man or a police man- I pretended to be a business woman, with my brief case filled with papers for me to sign, sitting in my office...to ensure my brothers were able to play with me (they wanted to be the police men and fire men), we would pretend that they had to report to me, and I'd direct to what needed to be done. It's been a natural progression in the business field since then.

Corey spoke about finding the intersection of your passion for business and your passion for ministry. About searching the scriptures to see what was said about business, stewardship and work. I know these things, but I'm really glad I hear them today. I've been struggling with this- my parents might know abit about this, because I was very indecisive for a while about accepting my job offer in Investment Banking- Was this my calling? Was it my purpose? Was this what God wanted for me at this time? Sure, I wanted it. But did God want it for me?

But, I'm of the position that my steps are ultimately ordered by God- He's lead me up to this point, I know He has opened doors in my life for me to walk through, and I know He has closed certain others- I know this to be true. So I trust Him here- and so far, things that seem impossible have been happening. My desire to come to B-school was so strong, my desire to work in IB was so strong- but it was at that point where I actually gave it back up to God, where I said, yes Lord, I want this, but not my will- but yours be done - it was at that point that I got my breakthrough and God delivered to me my desire. I know this to be true.

So I may not have completely found my life's intersection of business and ministry- but I'm definitely moving in that direction.

Selah