For Jesline Su, she is only just entering the most vibrant and fruitful season of her life. Having made the switch after 20 years in the corporate scene, she now serves God full-time as the Director of Human Resources & Corporate Services at Lighthouse Evangelism.
“This shift from a professional career to purpose-driven service is not just a career move, but a divine calling to leverage my abilities for the glory of God and to further His kingdom,” says Jesline. In a church, human resources and corporate services play an important role in fostering a culture of growth and empowerment, cultivating an inclusive and engaged church culture and supporting the needs and development of the leaders.
A profound shift in priorities and values
Making the switch from corporate to full-time ministry often entails exposure and the need to adapt to a change in work culture. For Jesline, the work culture at Lighthouse Evangelism is a transformative breath of fresh air, compared to her previous corporate jobs.
“At Lighthouse Evangelism, we work with a sense of passion, calling and eternal perspective, whereas career advancement is often the primary motivator in the corporate world. Our work culture is a beautiful reflection of God’s love and grace, and I’m grateful to be part of this community,” says Jesline, “The church’s culture of grace, love and compassion also translates to our prioritisation of overall well-being and integration of spiritual, emotional and work-life balance.”
Translating corporate experience to driving positive change
With corporate experience in transformational leadership, strategy, human resources, talent management, culture change and large-scale project management, Jesline is now using her wealth of corporate experience to drive positive change in Lighthouse Evangelism. A change that she has implemented is the implementation of the church’s culture transformation initiative, through which four culture pillars – Honouring Others in Love, Serving with Excellence and Integrity, Valuing Teamwork and Continual Growth, as well as Resiliently Fulfilling Our Calling – were put in place.
“Since implementing the culture transformation initiative, we have seen significant change in our work culture,” shares Jesline, “Our pastoral team and lay leaders have embraced empathy and compassion, creating a ripple effect of kindness throughout the congregation; Our staff and volunteer teams have risen to new standards of quality and accountability, inspiring confidence and trust; We have seen a surge in collaboration, skills and leadership development among our pastors and staff, leading to a more empowered and confident team; and finally, our renewed focus on mission and purpose has reenergised our pastors and staff, leading to a greater passion, creativity and commitment to the church vision.”
The decision to transit to ministry work – thoughtfulness and intentionality
Despite the positive sides of joining ministry work full-time, it is not a step to be taken lightly.
Jesline advises: “Seek guidance, trust in God’s leading and be open to growth and learning.”
It is important to seek clarity on your calling, build relationships and networks, develop relevant skills, trust in God’s timing and provision and prepare for a successful transition into ministry life.
Join Lighthouse Evangelism in lighting up the world!
If you are interested in exploring internship and career opportunities at Lighthouse Evangelism, visit our careers page at www.lighthouse.org.sg/career or send your resume to hr@lighthouse.org.sg.