How God Led Me to One City
When you have worked somewhere for 22 years, you assume you will stay there until retirement. After all, why leave your comfort zone? At forty-four years old I thought I should know my purpose and passion in life. However, I didn’t, and that bothered me.
I was sitting at my desk one day thinking how I wasn’t happy. I thought to myself that I was lucky to have my job and should “suck it up buttercup and be happy”. However, the next words that went through my head completely changed my life – “you are not where I want you to be”. I knew those were not my words. I sat at my desk thinking that if I’m not where God wants me to be, then I’m not being obedient to Him.
Needless to say, hearing those words strengthened my prayer life, as I told God wholeheartedly that I wanted to follow His plan for my life. Keep in mind I have always been a big planner and liked to be in the driver’s seat. So for me to jump in and say I’ll follow not knowing where that may lead would have caused major panic for me in the past.
I had not been looking for another job. I prayed asking if I should start looking online at job search sites or what should I do? I asked God to give me a sign. I sat there in my living room for a few minutes after praying and then picked up my phone. I opened Facebook and there on my screen was a post by One City. I sat there staring at it wondering if that was the sign, as the name One City had been on my mind since hearing it mentioned once in church within a few weeks of hearing that I was not where God wanted me to be.
Jeremy and Raelenna gave a testimony at church about how they got out of debt following Dave Ramsey’s plan. I don’t think that Raelenna meant to say the name “One City” but she said it once. I felt strongly I was supposed to remember that name so I wrote it on my church bulletin. I looked at the website for One City when I got home. I went back to the website a few days later when I could not get the name out of my head. I thought maybe I was supposed to volunteer there some day so I entered my email address to get updates. Little did I know that an email update would change my life as I knew it.
I received an email update from One City that listed one of their goals for 2018 is to hire a program director. I stared at the screen in disbelief. Was this the sign I had been waiting for? I felt it was and reached out to Jeremy and Raelenna via email. We had lunch and I felt even more drawn to the position after hearing their passion and purpose with One City. God had revealed my new purpose.
Normally the thought of leaving a career of 22 years to pursue an entirely different field in which I have no experience, would stress me out. Then there’s the fact that the salary is not fully in place. However, there’s been no stress or doubt, as I know God is in control and I will follow His plan.
I am looking forward to this new chapter,
Mishea Culbreath
Little bit about me:
I grew up an hour south of Cape Girardeau in the small town of Lilbourn. I moved to Cape to attend Southeast Missouri State University where I majored in marketing. I fell in love with the area and planned to stay in Cape after graduation.
I accepted a position at Southeast in 1996 in the Office of Admissions and then moved into academic advising in 2000. I met my husband, Jason, during our freshmen year of college. We stayed in touch as friends over the years and then married after he relocated from Louisiana to Cape in 1997. We are the proud parents of Annie and Austin. I love to travel and spend time with family and friends.
After 22 years of dedication to helping Southeast students, I am eager to start this new and exciting chapter in life with One City. I look forward to meeting and really getting to know others in the community.
