Global Newsletter, September
Before joining EMI, I worked as a civil engineer in New York City on transportation projects. At that stage of my career, I was eager to learn, grow, and pay off my student loans. But even then, I always had a deep desire to be involved in missions. In my mind, that was always the end goal.
I was prepared to leave engineering behind to serve with an evangelistic ministry until I learned about EMI. In 2017, I volunteered on an EMI project in India and was deeply impacted by the team's commitment to serving the ministry client with excellence and by how prayerfully every step of the design process was approached. I quite honestly fell in love with the work EMI was doing. I realized I didn't have to choose between engineering and missions. I could use the profession God had given me to help ministries continue to thrive. Today, I have the privilege of supporting organizations that are already doing incredible work by helping plan hospitals, schools, water systems, and community facilities where quality infrastructure can make a lasting difference.
One of the biggest surprises about working at EMI has been how deeply we rely on the Lord. Our South Africa office begins every morning with a staff devotion that consistently shapes my perspective and prepares my heart for the day ahead. I've also been inspired by the intentional investment EMI makes in developing young professionals, encouraging them to pursue excellence in their work and live as disciple-makers. And what's to say about our amazing ministry clients? Their faith, perseverance, and commitment to their communities have continually challenged me to see God's work from a broader perspective.
If someone is considering joining EMI, I would encourage them to have conversations with staff. We're friendly people! Meet with different team members, hear their experiences, and, if possible, volunteer on a project. God often provides clarity through community. Sometimes the concerns we carry can be eased simply by hearing how God has led others.
A few weeks before moving to South Africa, someone told me, "If it doesn't work out, you can always come back." That simple comment gave me peace. I realized I could only continue to ask the Lord to lead me and as long as He kept opening the doors, I would follow. The Lord desires to journey with us. Even if I didn't know exactly what the future held at that time, I could trust Him with the next step. Nearly five years later, saying yes to EMI has been one of the most rewarding and life-giving decisions I've ever made.
Working at EMI has deepened my faith by teaching me to depend on God in ways I never expected. Serving as support-funded staff has stretched my trust in His provision, while working alongside believers from different cultures has expanded my understanding of His global Church. Every project reminds me that engineering is about more than solving technical problems, it's an opportunity to love others well and participate in God's work of bringing hope and restoration to all people.
