You should hire Jessi Trigger.
Normally, when a chaplain brings me to his college campus, I speak in a chapel service about the ministry of Compassion International. Then, that evening, I play a concert for a handful of students who remember hearing “Welcome Home” in the minivan with mom on the ride to middle school years ago. In the hours between chapel and concert I catch up on e-mails, phone calls, maybe even sneak in a nap.
But not at Bryan.
Jessi Trigger, who works in the Spiritual Formation Office at Bryan College, believes in making the most of time and people. That includes visitors like me.
Tyrus and I ate spaghetti with chapel worship leaders, talked about what worship is and how to do it together and alone. I spoke to singer songwriters about the craft and business of music. I lead a discussion in an Intro To Ministry class about the individual’s and local church’s role in caring for the poor – scanning the bible together from Moses to Paul. We had lunch with inspiring students who lead mission teams in the community, around the country and the world. I explained social media to a communications class, how I use it to keep a career and ministry going without a record label, how we use it at Compassion Bloggers to connect the first world to the third.
One and a half days on the Bryan College campus left me feeling energized, useful, hopeful about the next generation of American church leaders. And I left a big fan of Jessi Trigger.
Tyrus and I both couldn’t stop talking about her when we finally drove away. “She’s gonna be missed here,” he said.
Jessi’s husband is headed to grad school in Orlando so Jessi will be leaving Bryan soon. I asked what her dream job there would be and she said she’d love to lead worship at a small church where she can also disciple youth.
I don’t know her official title at Bryan College these days but I know she’s the leader of worship leaders there and also teaches discipleship while actually doing it. She disciples students with the aim that they’ll then go and make disciples too. From what I witnessed at Bryan I think she’s been successful: I’ve never been to a school where the students I met were so consistently spiritually (and otherwise) mature.
Jessi is that rare individual who is highly organized while still being warm, magnetic even, and not coming across as the least bit high strung. She’s managed to be an educated minister without misplacing her love for God and people in a textbook somewhere. She’s tender-hearted, self-motivated, humble, joyful, an encourager, a worshipful listener and skilled communicator. She was life to us this week, can you tell?
If you’re in Orlando and have a job opening that fits Jessi’s dream, I highly recommend hiring her. I’m not giving out her contact info here, but get in touch with me and I’ll connect the two of you if it seems like a potentially good fit. Deal?
Now, I’m curious. What’s your dream job?
JessicaB says:
Cooking, writing. Producing fruit. Fertilizing people.
Can you get paid for that?
Shaun Groves says:
Um, not much, but enough. ; )
JessicaB says:
Enough is a beautiful amount.
Beth says:
I’m sorry I missed your visit to my hometown, but glad you had a memorable time. Come back soon!
MJ says:
My dream job is to be a mother. I am.
I am living my dream.
No, reality is not quite what I envisioned in the dream.
But, I am incredibly blessed.
I am living my dream.
Shaun Groves says:
You know, that’s what my wife told me when we moved from friends to more way back when. Her dream was to leave business and do the business of momming. It’s hard business. But there’s none more important. So thankful you’re both able to live your dream.
Kelli says:
My dream job is to somehow utilize my gifts in writing for the kingdom of God. Sometimes I feel like that’s such a cliche but it really is my hearts desire.
Shaun Groves says:
I think you do that well already, Kelli. I’m reading.
Kelli says:
Thanks. ๐
keith says:
If I could figure out a way to get paid (enough) for just listening to music and telling other people about it, that would be great.
Erin says:
I would love to find a way to take mission trips (long enough to really get to know the culture/people/need) and then write the experiences for a magazine. The idea of experiencing things people don’t want to or can’t and then bringing it back home for them to empower and encourage as well as educate would be amazing. I’ve got the missions part down (going back to Uganda soon) if only I could find a job writing about it.
Shaun Groves says:
What about creating a blog that chronicles your journeys overseas? Maybe financially supported by the many mission orgs you’d visit?
cara says:
My selfish dream job: Being paid to eat and then exercise.
My real dream job: To be the nurse that makes a positive difference to a patient and their family… true dream/fantasy: being able to introduce dying people to Christ and snatch them away from satan at the last minute. ๐
Shaun Groves says:
Awesome.
Katie says:
My dream job involves the ability to fill paper (virtual and/or tangible) with God-glorifying words.
Katie
Lindsay says:
So glad and thankful for your time at Bryan. I’ll be praying that Jessi finds the perfect position in Florida.
As far as my dream? I’m finding that the more diligently I pursue *my* dream, the less I feel the presence of God. I hate that.
For now, I’m trying to rid myself of my dreams and truly ask God exactly where and how He wants me to get involved in His dreams.
I know that sounds cliche, but it’s truly where I find myself at this time.
Sara McNutt says:
My dream job is to be an international journalist. And to somehow be undercover for the Gospel in closed countries, particularly in the Middle East. I was so sure in college that that’s what I was going to do I got a tattoo in Arabic on my foot that says, “Send me, Lord, for I am willing.”
Ruth Ann says:
I am also living the dream of being a stay-at-home mom. The weight of the responsibility is a lot to bear…especailly on the hard days, but it is so so worth it. I love every minute.
After my kids are all grown, my dream would be to open a coffee shop/bookstore.
Or just cook all day.
๐ So many options!
Cherish says:
My dream job is to be as close to the poor and hurting children of the world as I can. To hold the babies without parents, to comfort the teenagers who have become orphans, to be a friend to those who have no one else. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
Kim says:
My dream job is to have a website/blogsite that projects the love of Jesus into the world. My dream is for it to be a place where people can come and really feel God’s grace, interact with one another, support each other. I would also like for it to be a place where non-Christians can see the positive side of Christianity and might even be drawn into the faith through what they read and see.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3
[email protected] says:
Wonder if I could get paid to play with my kids and date my husband?
Liz says:
My dream job is to go back to teaching preschool. I *loved* it, but had to move to a job with a year-round salary. Preschool teaching (at a private school) only pays an hourly wage.
My other dream job is to be rich enough to quit working outside the home so that I can write full time. I blog to fill that gap.
I’d also love to be a marriage therapist, but that requires a master’s degree which, let’s just be honest, is never gonna happen! LOL!
Matthew W says:
Eventually? To be a senior pastor. But a youth minister before that. But that’s going to take awhile to get together…
Megan @ Faith Like Mustard says:
My dream job would include reading books, sampling chocolates and traveling….all part-time, of course. I’d still need to tend to my first dream job–being “mommy.” ๐
@ Lindsay– “As far as my dream? Iโm finding that the more diligently I pursue *my* dream, the less I feel the presence of God. I hate that.”
Girl, I can totally relate!!
Karen says:
My dream job would be to travel the world FREQUENTLY to pour in to the lives of missionary women. ( I do get to go some, but would love to go more often!)
I am ever so grateful for the internet that does provide a means for long distance encouraging!
Jen says:
Although some days I don’t act like it, being a mom is my dream job. I get to stay home and raise my two crazy, energetic, adorable kids.
Beyond that, cooking school in Tuscany sounds pretty good…
Dawn~Canada says:
Dream job – milking a cow, gathing eggs from the chickens, growing vegetables, teaching my kids and those in need to do the same and to love Jesus. My dream job would be to nourish peoples bodies and souls. It’s not grand but…
Jen P says:
My dream job would be to be a personal assistant to someone in very “high pressure” ministry…. to be able to serve them while they serve others and make their lives easier. You want coffee? Dry cleaning? Dictation? I’m your girl. I am so impressed by what people are doing in ministry and while I know my gifts aren’t to be the one doing the ministry (at least not at that level), I am super good at supporting the people who are.
PS: If Wess Stafford needs a PA, I’m all in. ๐
jen says:
My dream job is one where I would get to be creative, teach, disciple, and laugh a lot (and I wouldn’t mind a little travel/adventure thrown in.) Right now that looks a lot like “homeschool mom of four.”
I do wonder how it will look in the future though. Some days I pray that God would use me as a missionary, some days I pray that God would allow me to speak to groups of women – teaching His word, and some days I just think I’d like to grow up to be a super-cool grandma . . . or maybe an art teacher.
Caleb Colby says:
My dream job is to become a freelance programmer/writer. mainly anything and everything involved in web page and database design.
misty says:
My dream job…
to be a missionary in a 3rd world country. To not have to worry about $, getting paid or paying bills. To be able to do what I do on short term mission trips every single day. Just to make a real difference somewhere that is really matters.
I know that what I am doing here matters…but, it feels so much different on a mission trip. I want to do that for the rest of my life.
Krista says:
I totally hear you Misty! We want to do this too, but major college debt is completely in the way. ๐ We have a place where our talents can be used to, but just can’t seem to find the way forward right now.
Sarah says:
I’m pretty behind on my blog-reading… but I had to say, as a proud alum of Bryan College, I am happy to hear that the things that I loved most about BC seem to still be true! Also, I have had the privilege of meeting & working with Jessi Trigger, and I completely agree with your assessment & recommendation!
Kris says:
My dream job is to be able to speak and write to women regarding abuse and assault, and the healing power God has for that. I want to help bring women and children out of that way of life and to teach others how to do that, too.
Marina says:
I love interpreting/translating. That’s what I do know and did before and hope to do in the future. I help missionaries who come to my country to deliver God’s word to other people, Christians, or Christians-to-be. Through doing so I myself became a Christian over 5 years ago. I’d like to learn some other languages, too.
Shaun Groves says:
Wow, what an incredible job (and story). Are you safe to say what country?
Marina says:
The country is Ukraine. The first missionaries that I started working with have lived in different cities of Ukraie for about 11 years total. They were the first model of Christian family to me, and the first people to teach me about Christ – directly and indirectly, when I interpreted lectures, Bible lessons, Individual Bible studies, etc.
Their last name was Knights, Dennis and Diana. Diana also died here in Ukraine, and her tombstone there has an inscription quoting Romans 1:16.
As I was growing in my faith and Christian walk I learnt to interpret for free and now I have a paid job as well as participate volunteerly in different campaigns helping Christians from the Unites States to understand people here and vice versa. I believe it’s God’s gift, for sometimes I would know the meaning of certain words without hearing them before.
And there are a lot of interesting stories connected with their mission work here. For Ukraine has gone a long way from Soviet atheistic country to a place where people can now openly worship God.
Heather says:
Hi Mr. Groves.
I want to thank you for taking the time to invest in my fellow students and I here at Bryan. It was truly a privilege to have you here on campus with us. I am a student in the Intro to Ministry class that you came and spoke in, and I want to sincerely thank you for your honesty, transparency, and challenge to us on our perceptions of what ministry is really all about. May the Lord bless you! Please come back and see us sometime.
As for a dream job, I believe I would greatly enjoy working for a sports-minded organization that invests in children, developing their skills while helping them explore ways to glorify God with their natural skills, talent, and competitive nature both on and off the field.
sharon says:
I concur whole-heartedly about your impression of jessi!!!! i have known her since she was born and have always been impressed by her joy in life and Christ and her compassion for others!! (in addition to so many other wonderful qualities!) i’m glad you had the opportunity to be blessed by her on your visit to Bryan!