Photo credit: Let Ideas Compete (Creative Commons)
I was managing a mobile home park in Texas – 185 homes located about 45 minutes south of downtown Dallas – the only mobile home park owned by a big property management company in North Dallas. Single, divorced, I had long before made up my mind that I was going to allow the Father to use whatever I had available, even if all I had was time. Even if all I had was a job. Like Moses, who gave God the staff in his hand, all I had to offer Him was my job. I had no computer, no phone, none of the tools of ministry I am now utilizing.
I had resided in the park for 8 years with my wife and children. After she divorced me, I stayed there and, when working at WalMart, suffered an accident (a ton of dog food was dropped on my foot) which caused me to remain at home while I healed. One day, the park manager’s groundskeeper was caught digging in her purse. She fired him and asked me if I would like the job. In time, she was promoted and I was offered the park manger’s position. While I was there, that mobile home park experienced incredible revival. Not only spiritually, but physically, residents planting trees, building nice decks, cleaning up and beautifying their lots. Even the bank that owned the property commented on what a wonderful “spirit” they could feel in the park when they inspected it.
What made the difference? For starters, I was “prayer walking” at night before I’d ever heard of that. I anointed every post, mailbox and stop sign with oil and claimed that park for the Kingdom of God. I placed encouraging Gospel tracts on car windshields. As time went on, people either committed their lives to Christ, began attending church, with me or elsewhere, or they moved out. The profile of our resident population transformed as one resident was sentenced to prison and a practicing witch’s house burned to the ground. In their place, retired ministers and devoted followers of Christ began moving in and our occupancy increased to nearly 100%. Bible studies popped-up. Neighbors started reaching out and getting to know each other. Flying kites, riding bikes, having cook-outs… the Spirit of Peace was downright tangible.
Some things I did on a “natural” level included a newsletter I created (remember, no computer) as well as a logo for the park to unify us all as a community. I developed the habit of praying for daily divine appointments back then. As park manager, ministry opportunities took place daily right there in my office/residence as visitors would sit across from my desk and pour out their hearts – often quite tearfully – including repairmen and sales people. I always had Gospel music playing softly in the background. One man, a Mormon, told me he could feel the presence of God in my office. When I inquired as to whether he felt that same presence in his church, he stopped to think and finally whispered, “No, not like this.” Not only did he become a resident a few days later, but he eventually left the Mormon church and joined a non-denominational church nearby.
This revival wasn’t limited to that park. It wasn’t long before property managers from our company’s apartment complexes throughout Dallas began calling me with Bible questions (no email back then). On occasion, several made the long drive from Dallas just to have a Bible talk.
Was there resistance? Absolutely, even from a few so-called “Christians.” But God favored me greatly. One day, when I was at the headquarters in North Dallas, as I was speaking with the owner, an intimidating woman of great wealth, two detectives walked in and took her 22-year old daughter away in handcuffs for check forgery. After they left, my boss collapsed in her over-stuffed leather chair and tearfully asked , “Mike, what would YOU do?” Suddenly, she was morphed into a hurting, vulnerable mother in need of help. So, I did what was required of me – comforted and counseled her, and received great favor from that woman for the remainder of my 3 years managing that park.
Bear in mind, I had not yet attended Bible College (something that was later paid for, anonymously, on my behalf). I was not “officially” in ministry. I wasn’t a church deacon, an elder… I was just a guy who loved Jesus and who understood that we ALL have a ministry. I didn’t know it, but I was being trained for the ministry Father had planned for my future.
What is He requiring of YOU where YOU spend the majority of YOUR time? You’re surrounded by hurting people every single day. Start there. Remember, YOU are the church – it’s the people, NOT the buildings and NOT the denominations. Our mission is to love one another.
Michael Tummillo was a Workplace Chaplain in Texas and founder of the international ministry, The Church @ Work (TCAW). A one-finger typist, Michael has had an online presence since 1999 and has reached millions with his email devotionals, and other Internet activities. His goal is not to push religion but to push people, giving his ministry away and encouraging followers of Jesus to share the love of God in the place they spend up to 70% of their lives: the workplace. Sadly Michael passed away recently.
One reply on “Guest post by Michael Tummillo: How are things at work?”
What a great story of God at work (pun intended)! Thanks, Mike, for sharing. Thank you, Felicity, for publishing this. I pray many will be inspired to open our eyes to the opportunities at hand–wherever we live, work and play.