Keri McDonald's Work Stories: Job History as a Pilgrimage
Welcome to the newest post in the second annual series of guest posts on the subject of our everyday work lives. For the remaining weeks of Ordinary Time, I’ve invited some friends to share a one-day snapshot into their work life that will help us see what they know to be true right now about who they are made to be.
I’m delighted to introduce you to this week’s guest contributor. We had the privilege of worshipping together with Keri and her husband, Rob, both at our Austin church and, for an all-too-short time, in the same small group. Keri is one of those people who carries a special kind of energy; even in small interactions with her, I always feel re-centered on the important things in life. The McDonald family exhibits what Brian and I lovingly refer to as “churchmanship”. Their commitment to serve the life of God’s people is exemplary, whether in foundational ways (as in the integral role they’ve played investing in their Austin church plant ) or in weekly behind-the-scenes ways (after years and years of sitting behind a soundboard, you can find Rob playing bass on the worship team, which everyone knows is the heart and soul of good music). May God give every congregation a Keri and Rob!
I’ve only recently begun learning Keri’s work story. In preparing today’s post, I’ve already read her account multiple times in order to absorb the wealth of insight she offers those of us hoping to discern where our own work and callings intersect. May Keri’s story encourage you in whatever part of the journey you find yourself today.
In order to understand how I’ve gotten where I am with my current vocation, I think it will be helpful for me to share a bit of history. Years back I started out my career as a Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworker responsible for making sure that kids who had been removed from their families due to abuse or neglect could find safe and permanent homes. This experience, while short, profoundly shaped my career and life calling. In the period of about a year and a half, I learned more about the legal system, education system, and honestly how hard it can be to be a good parent when you’re challenged with poverty than I ever expected.
From CPS, I worked for a Child Placing Agency and then for Texas CASA for a number of years. I eventually found myself in education policy still focused on helping kids from hard places find better futures and, at that time, earning my master's in public affairs.
With the arrival of my second child in 2013, my life was again changed and shaped by this experience; Elliott was born with a cleft palate and although now he’s a perfectly healthy six year old, I spent the first year of his life at a lot of doctor’s appointments eventually leading up to his corrective surgery. I felt God tugging at me to make a shift—I wanted to spend more time with my kids and have more flexibility than my current full-time job offered.
So, my husband Rob and I decided that I could make the shift to working part-time for a local non-profit. A few years later, after making a big move to a more affordable home in the suburbs and downsizing our budget, we again made the collective decision that I should start my own business working with a variety of non-profits in communication and fundraising. This has been a stretching and challenging journey, but one that I’ve been able to catch glimpses of how God is working in our lives throughout the process. It has been a blessing to use all of my experience to meet organizations and individuals where they are—I love being a connector and helping to form partnerships among a variety of different groups.
Today I started out my day waking up about 6:30 a.m. to get my boys, Corban and Elliott, who are now in 4th and Kindergarten off to school. I then drove to work out at Jazzercise, my favorite place to release stress. It’s a distance from home so I spent the return drive listening (only about half focused) to Pray as You Go and zooming down the tollway anxious to get home to prepare for a video call with a potential new client.
This client heard me speak at a recent conference for foster care providers and we were trying to determine if I could help them with their fundraising efforts. The call went really well I think—hopefully I’ll be going to Kerrville eventually to do a fundraising planning session with their team and talk about other strategies that I can assist them with long term.
Following the call, I jumped back in my car and drove back the other direction to meet a friend for lunch who is also a client. She started her own ministry in the Catholic community a few years ago serving individuals and couples that have struggled with infertility and pregnancy loss as well as offering resources for adoption. I’ve been working on a case statement for her that could be used to write grants and I also made some recommendations about the next steps. One of the things that’s great about working for myself is that I have a lot of flexibility and sometimes an experience of learning with one client can really translate to helping another—this was true here as I offered a completely different strategy than I would’ve when we first started this process a year ago.
One of the places in her community that offers a quiet workspace.
After lunch, I headed back to downtown Round Rock, TX which is my working home away from home. I spend most of my time not spent with clients at either the coffee shop or library on Main Street—it’s close to my sons’ school, our home, and also makes me feel like I live in a small town even though we live very close to Austin. I spent a few hours here finishing up a grant for another client and preparing for another meeting I have next week with the Episcopal Canon of the Ordinary. I’ve been working with Texas CASA for about a year and a half now to develop a faith-based volunteer recruitment initiative and I think if I could make this the sole focus of my work I would; it’s definitely a passion project. Hopefully, the Canon will be able to give us an entry point into churches around Texas to develop a ministry to serve kids in foster care.
After the coffee shop, I headed to pick up my sons from my parent’s house. They are part of my village and help with picking the kids up from school and care for them while I work a few days a week. When we arrived home, Rob had already started prepping dinner so I attempted to help with that, do some chores, and get the kids started on homework. Corban then had an evening violin lesson and I returned home exhausted from that and spent the rest of my day watching TV and then off to a long soak in the bath where I read for a while.
Keri and her husband, Rob
I’m really grateful for this life that God has given us. I’m thankful that I have a very supportive partner in Rob who has always supported my dreams and crazy plans. But there are times when working for myself has caused extreme moments of self-doubt and worry (probably almost weekly if I’m being honest). The nonprofit world can be a roller coaster and just when I think I’ve gotten everything figured out I’m hit with an organization backing out of a contract and scrambling to make up for that loss financially. It’s often hard to be creative about getting new business or staying on top of the next big trend in fundraising. With Elliott being in Kindergarten this year, I’ve considered going back to work full time for some additional stability. I recently heard God saying that He wants me to be sure of Him. I don’t often hear from God, so I’m trying to just rest in that confidence even though it is WAY more difficult for this control freak than I would like to admit. Until then, I’ll keep having days like this one and taking each opportunity as it comes.
Keri is a consultant for non-profits and schools in Central Texas and beyond and serves as a board member of the Lone Star Justice Alliance. She and her husband Rob and their two sons live in Round Rock, TX and are members of Church of the Cross in Austin. In her spare time, Keri loves to see random movies, travel, and search for cool old houses in downtown Round Rock. You can learn more about Keri here.
Here’s a benediction and song for all of us, and especially those who work in the nonprofit sector.
“God of mercy, who through your Son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another, send your Spirit upon and empower these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. When they are called on in times of need, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. Give them a deeper sense of how their works of service are a part of your ongoing mission in the world. Amen.”
Your Labor Is Not in Vain, lyrics and music available here: Work Songs by The Porter’s Gate
What story does your daily work tell about who you are called to be in this world right now?
Share with me know in the comments below!
(You can read all of the Work Stories here.)