A Faith That Makes A Difference
It was like a dream come true back in 1998. I was asked to lead the National Counseling Center (NCC) of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). The NCC was home to the telephone counselors who prayed for viewers who watched the daily 700 Club broadcast.
I recall the day I spoke with a supervisor in one of CBN’s fundraising departments. I shared my vision of being a catalyst for change and a prayer mobilizer at CBN. His response startled me.
He said that’s not me. My role is to work within the established guidelines. He was a man of faith like me; we just saw things differently.
This was a case of a faith that seeks to attain vs. a faith that endeavors to maintain. Let’s go deeper, but first, let me give you the bottom-line up front.
My faith to attain perspective resulted in me being let go by CBN a couple of years after our conversation. Conversely, my colleague’s faith to maintain outlook resulted in him being employed by CBN a decade after my departure. Which perspective is best? You decide.
I immediately created controversy by lobbying to get medical benefits for full-time telephone counselors. I then secured a pay raise for volunteer counselors. I took several telephone counselors off the phones daily to walk the grounds of CBN to pray for the ministry.
I established a library of prayer references for the counselors and Gospel Light Publications donated several hundred new books to get us started. I brought in 700 Club guests and Regent University professors to speak to and invest in the counselors.
Then a revival broke out in the NCC. I received a word of prophecy during this time: I see you standing before the leaders of CBN talking to them about the future of the ministry.
I was a mid-level manager. Management theorists say you can change a large organization from the middle. I agree if you can outlast your opposition and find a person of influence to support you. I didn’t identify my opposition early enough, and my Vice President (VP) did not have enough clout.
One day I had a random encounter with a senior VP at a building access point. He said, Kevin, whenever I run into you, I get a different impression than what I hear about you. What??!!
It turns out that a couple of NCC members went to the human resources department and complained about my changes. This senior VP told me he heard I was prophetic, which it seems was not good.
He went on to tell me that he thought he heard me say, come on, all you white folks during a chapel service. That remark -which I never made- got me removed from the roster to lead chapel services at CBN. I could play the piano and lead worship, but that was it.
Some weeks later, CBN leadership placed a new VP over my department. Within a week, he occupied my office, moving me into a closet-sized space. He took over leadership responsibilities and gave me administrative tasks.
In his first six months, the new VP terminated the employment of the two longest-tenured staff members, followed by a third shortly after that. The reason provided for their removal was reorganization.
I kept pursuing my vision for a year and a half, and then something unusual happened. I kept having these seemingly chance, one-on-one, meetings with the most senior leaders at CBN. I found myself talking to them about reenergizing prayer, the need for diversity in leadership, and the future of CBN.
Inevitably, the day came when my employment was terminated-a long story. I made a final request. I asked the CBN President if I could speak to Pat Robertson and thank him for his years of ministry.
The words just came out of my mouth. I wondered why I made this request, but I figured it wouldn’t happen. A couple of days later, I received a call from Pat’s secretary to set up a meeting. What was I going to say to the founder of CBN?
I had a great conversation with Pat Robertson. I talked to him about reenergizing prayer, the need for diversity in leadership, and the future of CBN. He was very gracious. I left his office believing my mission at CBN was complete.
How did I do pursuing my vision to be a catalyst for change and a prayer mobilizer at CBN?
During the heat of the controversy surrounding me, CBN leadership elevated a Director to become the only black VP in the ministry. After I left, a black co-host became more visible on the 700 Club. Perhaps this was just a coincidence; perhaps not.
Our counselors did not receive medical benefits, but the volunteer counselors kept their pay increase. I just heard from an individual last week who told me how the revival in the NCC was the foundation of her life and ministry today.
In the end, perhaps the words I spoke to senior leaders at CBN had the most enduring impact, but I have no way of knowing that.
Success does not always leave you feeling victorious. I felt like I had been beaten with many stripes towards the end of my time at CBN. After meeting with Pat, I drove home to my wife and four children with no job and no immediate prospects.
However, two months after my release from CBN, I landed a new job and a $14K pay increase that became a $25K-plus increase within a year of my departure.
God is looking for those willing to practice a faith of radical risk and vulnerability. Change is unlikely to take place otherwise. Do it! God will make up to you whatever price you have to pay. Incidentally, it was a great privilege to work at CBN. God Bless! Press On!! Kevin
