Thursday, April 30, was my last day on staff with New Hope Christian College, now known as Pacific Rim University. The staff put together a great potluck brunch with some of my favorite foods: fried rice, bacon, spam, donuts, coco puffs, cereal…basically anything that has to deal with breakfast because I love eating breakfast, even for lunch. They were even nice enough to get Star Wars plates, cups, and decorations because of my love for the movie series.
In another post I’ll explain how my departure from Pacific Rim Christian University came about but I’ll summarize it with an important principle: it’s important to align with God’s kairos timing and not have God align with your chronos timing. There were clear signs from the Lord that my season with the college was over. Thus, at the end of the gathering, Dr. Randy Furushima asked everyone to gather around to pray over me as they commissioned me to my next season.
If you are leaving a Christian organization, the best way to leave is to be commissioned. There are three reasons for this. First, you are being sent out with a blessing. The Lord had made it clear to me that my season with the school was over, so Dr. Randy took the initiative to have others pray for me. As such, you are being commissioned by others to carry on the work of the Kingdom, although for me it will no longer be from the school. Being sent out is better than being kicked out where no commissioning takes place.
Second, you are leaving the organization on good terms. Being commissioned sets a positive tone for the ongoing relationship between you and the organization. There will be times in the future when I may need the help of the school or the school may need my help; it would be no problem for either to approach the other because the commissioning set a positive tone for an ongoing relationship.
Third, this is honoring to the Lord. When you leave an organization, you want to leave on good terms. There should be no bitterness, backbiting, or backstabbing. A commissioning puts everyone on the same page and that creates unity. It becomes a witness to others that Jesus’ desire for all believers to be one still holds true.
I realize that not all Christian organizations will commission you upon your departure. I have been fortunate that my employment has been with Christian organizations and this is the second time I have been commissioned. As I move towards the future, I feel that I have the blessing of the Lord because others have commissioned me.
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