Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1300894
HOLY INTERRUPTION ENGAGE 7 f11photo/iStock "Well, [I thought], how do I do a Bible study? I guess I just tell them things that I'm learning." Over the next seven years, Lisa "learned on the job." By the time she returned to the States, she was burned out. Full-time ministry had taken its toll and she needed a break. Lisa's parents had moved to Washington DC, and she was drawn to the international population and political landscape of the District as well. But after seven years as a missionary and no other job history to speak of, what was she going to do? Much to her surprise, Lisa received multiple job offers after sharing her testimony at a DC church. She accepted a position as a receptionist. "I ended up doing ministry from my desk," she said. "It just didn't leave me." Soon, Lisa became the director of outreach for the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship, where she evangelized on Capitol Hill through lunches, Bible studies, and events where members of Congress shared about their faith. Through that role, she got to know staff members in the offices for the House and Senate Chaplains. One of those staff members was Meg Saunders, the director of communications for US Senate Chaplain Dr. Barry C. Black. Saunders, who was preparing to move, approached Lisa about filling her role. Lisa applied and, when she met Chaplain Black, he said, plain as day, "the Holy Spirit told me to hire you!" Despite her lack of an Ivy League degree, personal political aspirations, or alignment with the "relevant work experience" portion of a job description, Lisa flourished. Five years later she stepped into her current role as Chaplain Black's chief of staff. "I ended up doing ministry from my desk," she said. "It just didn't leave me." Chaplain Black continued to acknowledge her gifts and encouraged her to hone them through leading Bible studies and public speaking, and recommended she take classes in Bible and theology. At first, Lisa felt that adding a class to her already full plate would cause it to overflow. She had two sons, was involved in her church, and her job kept her busy each day. How could she possibly fit in schoolwork as well? But one weekend, she attended a Bible study where her mind changed. She was so impressed by the teacher and found herself thinking, I could benefit from the work she's done. "It was the first time God opened my heart to the idea of spending more time studying and saying no to other good things in my life so that I could be grounded in what the Bible says is true for the long run," Lisa said. She began to research seminaries in the DC area. Soon, a friend called and asked, "Did you know Denver Seminary has a campus ten minutes from your house?"