Lettie’s Story:
Even though I had been offered a partnership in my law firm, I was considering other job possibilities as if I were a person surveying a chess board for the smartest move. Surely the large ad in the Washington Post for a job paying over $125,000 was the right move—especially since my friend oversaw that agency and assured me all I had to do was apply and interview.
On the other hand, I decided the tiny post seeking a prison chaplain and paying $27,000 was definitely not from God! I thought, Get thee behind me Satan! I could probably earn more at McDonald’s. But the little ad bothered me. Indeed, it haunted me so much I cut it out and placed it on the headboard of my bed. It would not stop wooing me. I felt relieved after I mailed my application to the prison. Out of my hands now!
Shortly thereafter, I was invited to an interview.
On the day of my interview, I surveyed the other applicants in the waiting room. I learned that many had volunteered at the prison for decades. They included pastors, parachurch ministry leaders and those with other ministry experiences. I was certain they were all far more qualified than I was, making me happily confident there was no way I would be selected.
I calmly took my turn answering the interviewers’ questions, feeling no need to impress. After all, I had no expectation of ever becoming a prison chaplain. In the infinite possible moves in the chess game of my life following Jesus, I felt sure God had something else in mind. Maybe he was just testing my obedience? I never expected to hear from them again.
When I was invited back to meet the prison warden, my mouth dropped open. Why in the world would he want to meet me? There were only two interviewees invited, so I started to get nervous. Surely, God was not calling me to be a prison chaplain. After meeting with the warden, I realized how much he reminded me of my dad—a strong, thin-built African-American man with proper mannerisms and a down-to-earth demeanor. We chatted with ease while I prayed God would guide him. I learned later that as I exited his office, he told his staff, “That’s my chaplain.”
My husband’s view was quite different from the warden’s after I was offered the job. As an accountant with a young baby, a new house, and many related expenses, he protested. We needed time to plan for such a radical move to a low-paying job, he added.
“Should I tell the Lord this is an inconvenient time?” I responded.
Afterwards, I decided I would not fight him about it. I told my husband he should talk to God about the job. And whatever he decided is what I would do. I rested, knowing I had married a man who has a relationship with the Lord.
Meanwhile, I prayed, “Lord it was not my idea to be a chaplain. If it is Your will, let your son know,” confident God would not call me to do something that would disrupt our marriage. So, I waited.
The prison staff desired a quick decision because they wanted the new chaplain to meet the one they were replacing. After my husband’s initial response, I never responded to my job offer, choosing to submit to his misgivings. Eventually, my husband told me he did believe it was God’s will for me to accept the position.
Meanwhile, I had been talking to God about my sense of inadequacy for ministry, having not attended seminary, in case He forgot. I suggested He send my sister, a seminary graduate and an attorney. I had always been critical of Moses because he told God to send his brother Aaron when God called from the burning bush. What a wimp! But now I knew how Moses felt.
God made a strategic move as I drove to work weeping. Like a chess player who had run out of moves, I surrendered, confessing to the Lord I would accept the position if it was still on offer, while believing it was actually too late. As I entered my office, the phone rang. It was the prison’s HR representative, apologizing for not getting back to me sooner. She wanted to know when I could start. Check mate. God took my surrender seriously, and now it was time to live true to my word.
Over my next 22 years as prison chaplain, thousands of women heard the gospel, and hundreds of women came to the Lord. Some are now ministers, managers, elected officials, prison after-care program coordinators, and college and post-college graduates. They work in various industries in many locations. Best of all, many are living as disciples of Jesus Christ.
When I considered my next move years ago, I chose to surrender my future to the Lord of the chess board. And because He is the all-wise and all-loving King of all kings, He knew what was best all along.
