Shannon Johnson
A talented art teacher uses her social media platform to inspire and spread love. An entrepreneur’s multi-million dollar company provides tens of thousands of electronic devices to youth during the pandemic. A barber does more than transform hair, he transforms lives.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe that a good Christian steward is someone who understands that God is the creator and owner of everything, but has empowered us as managers of the blessings He gives us. This includes time, opportunities, abilities, possessions, and the blessings of the Earth and its resources.
Here are several individuals — including the teacher, businessman, and barber — who epitomize stewardship in the broadest sense by excelling in the areas of talent, transformation, time, trust, and treasure.
Talent
When Autumn Goodman graduated from Andrews University in 2021 with a bachelor’s in fine arts, she did not plan to become a teacher. But, she enjoyed working with children.
“I just have a love for kids and learning,” said Goodman. “I’ve always been working with kids, from babysitting to being a camp counselor.”
So, she took a position as an interventionalist, or tutor, at Rolling Hills Elementary School in Orlando, Florida, before eventually landing a permanent spot as an art teacher at the school. She has since put it and her students in the national spotlight.
Goodman started showing snippets of her daily life as an art teacher on social media, like TikTok and Instagram. She shared classroom activities and projects the students were working on, organizational tips, and her personal interaction with the students. For instance, before they leave class, she encourages them to “tell someone you love them,” or show it in some way, like sharing a sandwich at lunch with a fellow student or giving flowers to a teacher.
“I know that I’m making an impact on them because of the way that I see them treating each other, which is really a blessing in itself,” she said.
Her social media platform has gotten the attention of countless people, including a producer from “The Jennifer Hudson Show” who invited her to a taping of the show in May in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation. Goodman thought she would just be sitting in the audience, but she was in for a surprise. At one point during the show, Hudson began talking about teacher appreciation and that there was a special teacher she wanted to highlight. Then Hudson started showing Goodman’s TikTok videos and a clip from a Zoom interview she had with producers before coming on the show. She then invited Goodman to come down and take a seat across from her, where she asked her questions about her life as an art teacher. At the end of the discussion, Hudson presented Goodman with Cricut design materials for her students and a check for $10,000.
“Thank you so much for what you do,” said Hudson. “You’re a blessing of a teacher. Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Transformation
Jeffery Johnson has been cutting hair in Huntsville, Alabama, for 37 years. He said what he enjoys most about his job is the reaction of customers after getting a fresh haircut.
“Some of them might be down when they come in,” said Johnson. “But after a cut, a fresh look, it spruces up their personality and makes them feel good about themselves.”
Johnson wants individuals who may not be able to make it to his shop to feel the same. That’s why he voluntarily visits people who are ill or unable to get around and cuts their hair for free. He did that recently when he found out a gentleman he once played sports with was hospitalized.
“I went to his room and I told him, I’m going to take care of you,” recalled Johnson. “When I finished, I saw a big smile come on his face.”
That man, Lenell May, has since been released from the hospital and is making a full recovery. He will never forget what Johnson did for him.
“I had been in the hospital for like two weeks and I wasn’t able to shave or anything; I was looking rough,” said May. “When he came and did that, I was like, wow! I was thankful, man.”
At his shop, Johnson said there’s always discussion on various topics, and he often uses the opportunity to talk about Christ and His saving grace. He said he’s also a faithful Sabbath keeper, and even though Saturday is usually one of the busiest days for barbers and hairstylists, he doesn’t work on Saturday unless he’s cutting the hair of someone in need.
When he goes back and looks over the financial books, he said he notices that he’s made just as much money during the week as those barbers or stylists in the shop who do work on Saturday.
“I never worked at the shop on the Sabbath, and I still made all my ends meet,” said Johnson. “I will cut someone’s hair in the hospital on the Sabbath, but I’m not looking to get paid. It’s out of love.”
Time
Evelyn Nicholaides, a retired schoolteacher who taught kindergarten for 25 years, now spends her time assisting with several ministries.
Two of the main ministries are the Quiet Bags that she spearheaded at the Fletcher Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and the International Food Fair she helped start to benefit Captain Gilmer Christian School in Fletcher, North Carolina.
The Quiet Bags are bags containing items that children can play with during the sermon time to help keep them quiet. For instance, a bag’s content might include a small whiteboard with markers, or small stuffed or plastic animals.
In the case of the food fair, Nicholaides said there are anywhere from 10 to 15 different countries represented, and people from the diverse community help make the food. Sales from the food go to Captain Gilmer Christian School to help with things like classroom supplies.
One of Nicholaides’ favorite Scriptures is Matthew 10:8, which says, in part, freely you have received; freely give.
“The time that God gives us is precious,” said Nicholaides. “I believe that, as much as we can, we should use it to uplift Him and help others.”
Trust
Phyllis Lee understands what it means to be trusted. At various times she served as treasurer, executive secretary, and interim president in the Central States Conference. She would go on to become the chief financial officer for the Office of Regional Conference Ministries and the Regional Retirement Plan before retiring herself in 2021.
Lee said at times she was a bit overwhelmed by some of her responsibilities, but trusted that God would see her through, and He did. She said she also heavily valued honesty and transparency in her work, particularly in the position of treasurer. She said sometimes treasurers are hesitant to share the financial picture if it isn’t pretty.
“If there’s bad news to be told, you tell it. If there’s good news to be told, you tell that too,” said Lee. “That way, people get the confidence in you that whatever it is you’re telling them, it’s real. It’s the truth, whether it’s good, or whether it’s bad. They’re getting transparency.”
Regardless of the situation, Lee said people should also simply speak up for what they believe in. She’s a firm believer in the saying, “When good men do nothing, evil triumphs.”
“You want to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and be able to say, ‘I was true to what I believed in,’ and that ‘I spoke up,’” she said.
Treasure
Without question, Darrell Thomas has built quite a bit of wealth. His information technology (IT) company, Thomas Consultants, holds a number of major contracts, including the State of Tennessee and Memphis-Shelby County Schools. One of the company’s largest partners is Hewlett Packard.
But, despite his possessions or status, Thomas, an Adventist since age 16, makes time to faithfully serve at the Breath of Life Church in Memphis, Tennessee, as an elder, treasurer, and musician.
“I don’t just sit back and throw money at it,” said Thomas. “I’m actually a part of what goes on there.”
He’s also in tune to what’s happening in his community and seeks to help those in need. During the pandemic, school systems across the country were in need of electronic devices, like laptops and notebook computers, for students to use remotely because of cancellation of in-person classes. Memphis-Shelby County Schools purchased 100,000 HP notebook computers and other devices, which Thomas’ company quickly delivered.
“When we win multi-million-dollar contracts, and we win a lot of them, that’s not what excites me,” said Thomas. “What excites me is what I can do with that to further the cause and make my community better.”
Thomas said he also heeds the Scriptures that say, what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul, and that by faithfully tithing, I’ll open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing you won’t have room enough to receive.
“What I always loved about that Scripture is every house that I’ve ever gone to has more windows than doors,” said Thomas. “He didn’t say open the doors.”
Whether it’s through talent, transformation, time, trust, or treasure, these individuals are fulfilling the blessings of stewardship described by Ellen G. White in Counsels on Stewardship.
“Every good thing of earth was placed here by the bountiful hand of God as an expression of His love to man. The poor are His, and the cause of religion is His,” wrote White. “The gold and the silver are the Lord’s; and He could rain them from heaven if He chose. But instead of this He has made man His steward, entrusting him with means, not to be hoarded, but to be used in benefiting others. He thus makes man the medium through which to distribute His blessings on earth.”
You, too, are a steward. Think of ways you can manifest the blessings of God and showcase His goodness through your life.
is a freelance writer who lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Alicia Jenkins-Johnson contributed to this article.
Southern Union | July 2024
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