Faith at Work
has the vision of more and more people living a call centered life. We believe
that the world changes for the better as people connect their faith to their
work, parenting, free time and civic engagements. Like any organization, FAW
needs resources to achieve its mission. Our new development Coordinator will
help us do that. Not simply by raising funds, but by building bridges. In that
spirit FAW is excited to introduce you to Betsy Perry, our new Development
Coordinator.
In Her Own Words
On January 17, 2003, I heard Doug Wysockey-Johnson and Marjory Bankson begin a Faith at Work retreat in Michigan with the words, “All calls begin with a lump in the throat...an opening of our hearts.” I was immediately curious about this. Call for me, arising out of my Christian background, was my vocation to be of service as a nurse which had evolved over time into a nurse educator, a health care administrator, then a foundation president—all roles that brought some success and a sense of fulfillment. At the conclusion of the two day retreat, I was fairly certain that I needed to cross over the “poison river”, which at that time meant giving my head and heart to the challenges of rebirthing a 143 year old organization.
Two years later in the midst of great turmoil in my work, I ventured on a spiritual wilderness trek on an island in Lake Michigan. The first day I picked up a beautiful stone, admired it, put it in my pocket, and forgot about it. Later when I put my hand in my pocket and touched the stone, a lump rose up in my throat and tears gave way under the pressure, and this happened every time I touched the stone. At one point I thought I should throw the stone as far as my old champion softball throwing arm could toss it. As I shared the story of the stone with my friends, it became my journey stone—a gift from God. On the last day, I tossed the stone into Lake Michigan into a circle of fire on the water created by the rising sun. My heart began to break open and soften. I began to understand at a deep level that my heart had hardened and my creative desires had been overwhelmed by years of planning everything and earning a living. I was being called to trust and have faith in the unknown future.
Over the last three years, as I completed my work in Michigan knowing the door was opening to something new, I did the work of the sixth stage of call to “Release.” And at the same time, in the process of nurturing my newly broken open and softening heart through silent retreats and love of family and community, I discovered that I have always been a bridge builder in my work—my true calling no matter what the work at hand may be.
Now my journey stone has led me to Faith at Work. I begin my position as Development Coordinator with a deep joy of being called to this position. Fundraising is all about building relationships, and I look forward to getting to know and building trust with all of members of the FAW community—board members, volunteers, staff colleagues, retreat leaders and participants, and magazine readers. With God’s grace and the wisdom and help of the Faith at Work community, I trust that I can help build bridges between your needs and resources, and our passion for the work of this organization.
Betsy Perry will be working out of her home in Harrisville, NH.