Many opportunities in life come in simple, unexpected ways.  Looking back, I recall single phone calls and brief prayer requests that have changed the course of my life.  One of those calls came from a caseworker in January 1975.  A baby boy had been born who was to be placed in our home.  Overnight I was diverted from a career path to motherhood.  “I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted me what I asked of him.” (I Samuel 1:27)  Fifteen months later I gave birth to our daughter, and eventually we had two more sons.  In less than six years I had become “the happy mother” of four children.

My husband and I have been married for almost 39 years, and we now have seven grandchildren.  What a blessing to see our children enjoying each other when they have the opportunity to get together—and to see our grandchildren, “the cousins,” developing friendships for life.  They love to spend time together on our 20-acre farm.

In November 1999 I received a phone call from Kathy Norquist, Randy Alcorn’s administrative assistant.  I knew Randy was an author, but that was about the extent of my knowledge of Eternal Perspective Ministries.  Kathy told me they were looking for a bookkeeper, and they would like to talk with me if I was interested.  Circumstances in my life made the timing perfect, and so…I’ve been the financial secretary at EPM for almost nine years.

Just when I needed a place to use my abilities because my children had become adults, God placed me at EPM.  What a shift in thinking—from employment with a for-profit company naturally concerned about the bottom line to working for a non-profit ministry where the director wanted to give it all away to help the needy—the unreached, the unborn, the unloved, and so on.  My eyes were opened to a world previously outside my thinking.  And that changes you.  Houses, cars, and interesting vacations start being measured against the needs around the world.  My wants versus their needs don’t mesh comfortably.

As the financial secretary, I process all contributions and receipts, maintain accounts payable and accounts receivable, prepare book orders for the shipper, process payroll, and generate financial reports as needed. One of my favorite things to do is send checks to the many ministries that Randy gives to. It is my privilege to see the complete cycle of how the money comes in and how it is distributed.

While bookkeeping and proofreading are my primary responsibilities at EPM, I really enjoy interaction with people, both by phone and by email.  I’m looking forward to getting acquainted with people in Heaven I’ll probably never meet on Earth.  One of those is a friend of mine in Washington.  For the past two years I’ve “walked” with her through a process that has taken her from being a self-described recluse to being actively involved in a church, a lady who now shares her anticipation of Heaven with those she encounters from day to day.  And a new email acquaintance recently invited me to meet for a conversation over a cup of coffee—when we get to Heaven.  She had shared with me about a tragedy in their family.   And then there is Marilyn who started her Heaven book distribution ministry a couple of years ago.  She has faithfully given away three Heaven books a month, watching for opportunities to do so when God brings someone her way.  Now she sees her ministry expanding to the distribution of children’s Heaven materials as well.  She is so excited, and shares her excitement with me.  Another friend I’ve never met in person.

Probably the most important thing I’ve learned from Randy is to watch for divine appointments.  A simple phone call, a word of encouragement, the suggestion of a book to read, can result in a changed life.  We’re not called to do the changing, just to be faithful.  What a privilege it’s been to work in a place where we “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen….”  I am looking forward to Heaven and meeting all the friends I’ve made but have never yet seen.  And hopefully I’ll also see people whose paths I crossed only briefly but whose lives were touched because I took the “risk” of responding to a divine appointment.

Note: Janet retired from EPM in Spring 2011.