Vocational Changes in My Life

13 Sep 2011 Posted by joannareyburnmay in Updates

Just a quick note here - if you follow me on Twitter, or are friends on Facebook, you may notice my hinting around about a new working location. Well it's true - I've started a new job this week in downtown Kansas City with a digital marketing agency (I won't say which one). This is a big move for me. Not only am I not working for non-profit for the first time in almost 10 years (minus two very brief stints in a furniture store and a shipping logistics company), but I'm getting out of my pajamas on a daily basis, leaving my puppies, and driving 30 minutes in traffic.

I did not go searching for this job, it found me. I was not intending to leave my position at the International House of Prayer. My boss and friend Jono Hall is really truly amazing, and my work for the ministry has consistently been very challenging and yet fulfilling at the same time. Honestly, this transition has happened so fast, I haven't really had the opportunity to process it all, but I do know that it's okay - that it's the right time for a change. I am proud to have been able to have been a part of so many amazing technological projects from the first website, to the launching of 24/7 streaming, website improvements, and the development of an iPhone and iPad app (and Androids, I promise it really is soon! Maybe even Windows 7, are y'all out there?) that I feel really fulfilled a piece of the prophetic words about this worship movement. (Bob Jones' word about people in rice fields participating with a live prayer meeting - that's happening with the apps and mobile streaming!), development of a "super player" and finally, my long-time dream of an IHOP teaching library. It's coming people!

Now I'm excited about working for a professional company, gaining more experience, broadening my perspective on digital marketing and sharpening and refining my web development skills. I am so thankful for an encouraging husband, and am looking forward to building for our future together (eventually we'd like some little J.May's running around). As a family, we've established a goal to live debt-free and living within our means by limiting our expenses and giving extravagantly, and we've got some catch-up to do to get there. I'm also looking forward to releasing another devotional album. Speaking of devotionals, I'll be leading a 2pm devotional set in the Prayer Room this coming Saturday if you're in the area. I'm also excited to enhance this blog and it's resource collection, and up my writing schedule.

I will still be maintaining and enhancing the IHOP apps in the future. Android audio-only streaming is currently being tested, and looks promising for Android 2.2 and above. Video streaming is ready to go, and I anticipate a soon release. I'll still be working closely with the IHOP team, but I won't be working in the full-time capacity that I have in the past. I appreciate your prayers for me and my husband as we walk through this transition, and will take any encouragement you've got. Anytime you quit a vocational ministry job, whether for a brief time or the long-term, that Mary/Martha stuff rares its head. I'm sure there will be some reflections on that in upcoming blog posts, but I wanted to give you, my friends, a brief life update.

Blessings,