One Opportunity at a Time

My journey to temporal self-reliance has been, before anything, a spiritual journey.  The Lord has been there all along the way offering me practical and spiritual advice. He has helped me meet the right people at the right time, eased my fears and silenced my doubts.

I am a sole trader here in Australia. I work as a corporate and vocational trainer for national training organisations. I specialise in soft skills, individual and team development, and leadership.  I also organise workshops and lectures in fine art and painting in local art galleries. But it was not an easy route to get to where I am.

I have a deep passion for art. I started lecturing in art during my early twenties while at university. After completing my art degree, I was given a wonderful opportunity to work in the training field as a self-employed trainer. This was only a temporary assignment, but I really enjoyed it. More temporary assignments followed all over Europe. Eventually, I started my business working as a consultant. It didn’t happen all at once—it came one opportunity at a time.

Though I know that God’s hand was there every step of the way, the journey has had its challenges. After many years working successfully in Europe, I moved to Australia. The move was unsettling. I had to start from scratch. I struggled to fully fit in and understand the rules and the market in this new country.

Doing the ‘Starting and Growing My Business’ course through the Church helped me get organised and prioritise. It gave me a broader view of my situation and helped orient me in my new home of Australia. The support of those whom I did the course with was also very helpful. These courses are helpful if you are starting a business for the first time or, like me, just needed a bit of help during some professional challenges.

Running a business and being self-employed is not for everyone. It requires discipline, vision and a great deal of organisational skills. It takes hard work and determination. But we are not alone: field mentors, Church specialists and employment advisers are there to help as well as a loving Heavenly Father. If we are teachable, we can achieve all our righteous desires.

This journey into self-reliance has been a rewarding experience as it has stretched me professionally and spiritually. I have learnt to more fully rely on the Lord and then go and do my part with courage and creativity. It has enlarged my understanding of our potential as children of a Father in Heaven and it has taught me valuable lessons on agency, obedience and service.