Coming Back Home

By Craig Sifferman

I’m the last of a dying breed. I have worked for the same company for over 30 years. In January 2008, I received the news that the executive director I directly reported to was moving from the core wire line division of AT&T to the mobility division and would not be replaced. My position was his chief of staff, which meant I didn’t have anyone to report to any longer. Within a few days, I found out I would report as part of the vice president’s staff (the vice president is two steps up from executive director). In the following months, our company began a major transformation, and I felt out of place.

An opportunity became available for me on the mobility side of the business, and having seen my former boss make the move, I felt this was probably a positive direction—and I also had deep concerns about my longevity in the position I was assuming on core wire line. As you know, many customers are “cutting the cord” and going strictly wireless, which means headcount reduction on the core wire line side.  

I prayed and asked the Lord what He would have me do. I was losing my peace regarding my employment and sensed the Lord was letting me know I needed to move to mobility. However, that meant I would be driving 70 miles each way to and from work each day (from Springfield to Joplin, Missouri, and back). I talked to my new vice president, who indicated it was probably a safe move and that things were very uncertain for me where I was.  

As these ideas were birthed, my wife was concerned I was making a decision based on fear rather than faith. I did not receive this from her and was receiving different counsel from another person who told me if I wanted to make the change, I should. I got the job with mobility quickly and started making the drive. 

At first, it was liberating to enter a facility of 600 people that was hiring left and right and had no regard for expense control or headcount reduction. Within about three weeks, however, something down in the pit of my stomach did not feel right. This was not an emotion; it was a shaking of my spirit. Within a few days God showed me the counsel I received did not point me to the Word and the Spirit of God; I didn’t follow the convictions in my spirit. Basically, I listened to the words of a man instead of seeking God on my own and sought that man’s approval rather than God’s. Even though I know God is sovereign and allowed me to go through all these things to deepen my relationship with Him, at the time, I felt I’d made a mistake. I began a downward spiral of emotional turmoil.

Over the next few months, I struggled in every aspect of my being: emotionally, psychologically, physically, socially, and spiritually. Finally, I began to realize God had allowed these events to flush out an error in my faith. God spoke to me deep in my spirit. It was not an audible voice, but it was very clear. I heard Him say, “This did not just happen.” The very next day, He said, “Just wait for it.” I shared this Word from the Lord with the rest of our church during one of our Sunday morning services. I didn’t know everything it meant, but God was beginning to expose my heart, faults and all, and allowing me to return to relying on His Word. 

God showed me this past fall that He was going to return my employment to Springfield, and I would no longer be driving 70 miles each way to work each day. I had no idea how this could possibly happen because the jobs with AT&T back in Springfield were shrinking. One morning during my quiet time with Him, God clearly directed me to check the job postings with AT&T that listed one opening with multiple cities. This typically means the job can be performed from anywhere (virtual location). Sure enough, I found several job postings—one of them was for the staff job reporting directly to the same vice president I had reported to when I left Springfield. There was a very strong witness in my spirit that God had shown me this opening, and I submitted my interest in the job, plus a personal note to the vice president. I had lunch with one of our pastors and discussed what I felt God was showing me. He confirmed in the Scripture that I was hearing from God. With the Scripture and godly counsel, I began to move from faith in God to the faith of God. This was brand new to me as I was encouraged to speak what God was showing me in Scripture, that He “calls those things which do not exist as though they did” (Rom. 4:17b). 

             

Within a few weeks, after some work assignment tests and a couple of interviews, I was offered the vice president staff position, which included an extra bonus of not only being able to work from Springfield, but from my home when I want. As an extra surprise, I got a raise. It was such a humbling experience to realize God would actually go to all this trouble for me in order to honor who He is and stay true to His Word. 

The most recent passage of Scripture God showed me starts with something I’ve read and heard a thousand times, but I never read past the first verse. My jaw hit the floor when I read these verses and pretty much found in the Bible exactly what God had planned and done on my behalf (and to further His kingdom)!

             

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity (Joplin). I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you (Joplin),” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile (Springfield)” (Jer. 29:11-14, NIV).    

Craig Sifferman is the Sales Execution Manager-VP with AT&T in Springfield, Missouri.