Ring, ring, ring! An abrupt pause to the expertly synchronized fingers tap-dancing on the computer keyboard. The phone is relieved by an instinctive pickup and response, “Good morning, First Assembly of God office.” No sooner, a gentleman knocks and enters the door, with finger raised, beckons attention, and is calmly greeted, “Good morning, please take a seat, sir. I will be with you shortly.” For many who have visited and or called, this is quite a familiar scene at the First Assembly of God Wortmanville (FAOGW) church office.
A fast-paced environment serving the myriad needs of members, friends, and communities, locally, regionally and internationally, the FAOGW church office is a vibrant and vital hub that supports ‘the work of the ministry.’ Staff members of the church office quietly and efficiently coordinate, manage and implement many critical functions such as, praying for the sick, dedicating babies, marrying couples, facilitating funerals, counselling those looking for answers to life’s challenges, and coordinating and hosting numerous FAOGW and collaborative ministry events.
The administrative team of the FAOGW church office is made up of a small group of people who serve selflessly to provide seamless support to the operations of the church. In recognition of Administrative Professionals Week, observed annually during the last full week of April, we celebrate the sterling contribution of administrative professionals, Elder Rochelle Semple, Sister Hazel Young, and Sister Melissa Thomas.
Serving FAOGW Office is a Calling
Elder Rochelle Semple has been employed at the church office since January 2001. Her current designation is Assistant Administrator, and she is responsible for managing membership records and reports for all FAOGW areas of ministry, and supporting FAOGW’s Administrator in preparing statutory financial records and reports. An administrative professional with distinct strengths in being well organised, attention to detail, confidentiality and planning, Elder Semple also actively supports the implementation of several FAOGW programmes and events, with local, regional and international stakeholders. Further, on a normal day, Elder Semple assists with office hospitality, managing telephone calls, WhatsApp messages, and praying for persons.
Reporting daily to the FAOGW office is more than a job to Elder Semple. She thinks of it as a calling, and she gives it her all in obedience to the Lord. In comparison to her former employment in the banking sector mainly to earn money, Elder Semple firmly believes her current position is her vocation. Though her previous work assignment lacked ‘pizzazz,’ it helped prepare her for the fast-paced nature of the church office. Additionally, the uniqueness of her current work environment inspired her to develop and implement innovative mechanisms to effectively manage day-to-day challenges.
Challenges like remaining calm under pressure. She shared an incident that tested her calm demeanor some years ago when cell phones were still quite uncommon. She was alone at the office when she received a call that there had been an accident involving the Bishop’s vehicle. Knowing that Bishop Massiah had left for an overseas assignment that same morning, she became extremely concerned but chose not to alarm anyone else until she could verify the news. Then the office phone rang, and it was the Bishop himself on the line. She was undoubtedly relieved but hilariously recalls that up until today, she does not remember what she said to him.
Be Committed
With 33 years of employment at the FAOGW church office, Sister Hazel Young, fondly called ‘Auntie Hazel,’ is one of the longest-serving members of staff. Her current designation is Assistant Administrator, and she earnestly believes that a person should be committed to the job wherever they work. Sister Young’s responsibilities focus mainly on preparing and managing payments and supporting the proper functioning of the office. Though there are specific responsibilities for each administrative staff, she indicated they work very closely to ensure the operations of the FAOGW church office are conducted in an efficient and effective manner. For Sister Young, her normal day at work consists of ensuring that payments are made in a timely manner and supporting other office activities such as managing the telephone and in-person requests, and ministry activities.
Before joining the FAOGW church office as Church Secretary, Sister Young also worked at a financial institution. As one of the longest-serving employees, she provides valuable institutional memory, guidance and mentorship in developing and managing office functions. Though she identified communication and technology as her biggest challenges at work, she resolutely added, “getting the work done is the most important thing.”
One of her most memorable moments was after a Prayer Meeting when the late Reverend Eileen Taitte said to her, “Sis Hazel, we can’t leave this office out.” She recalled that Reverend Taitte and others then walked through and around the church office several times praying. For Sister Young, this was an uncommon, but memorable experience because it felt good to be acknowledged.
A Sense of Belonging
The newest and youngest member of the FAOGW church office team is Sister Melissa Thomas. For the past seven years, she has served as Secretary to Bishop Dr M. Raphael Massiah. According to Sis. Melissa, a typical day at the office involves, responding to telephone and in-person requests; retrieving and filing newspaper articles and other documents; managing appointments and ministry requests.
To improve her level of service to the FAOGW church office, Sis. Thomas pursued additional technical certification as a Microsoft Specialist. Known around the office as the ‘tech person,’ she enjoys assisting colleagues in resolving technical issues. Formerly a public sector employee, she worked as a community resource personnel before joining the FAOGW church office team. One of her favourite moments was a staff Christmas breakfast at the Guyana Pegasus. She described the event as, “…welcoming, unforgettable, fun and relaxing.” She is inspired by the great people, culture, and a sense of belonging that the FAOGW church developed over the years.
Administrative professionals are essentially the glue that holds the organisation together. Notwithstanding the generic job descriptions, ‘Admins’ are often the first in the line of fire and take the heat with grace. They do more than just answer the phone and take messages; they manage schedules, agendas, projects and expectations. They just don’t type the document; they proofread, edit and publish flawless publications to present the organisation in the best light. They do not merely schedule the meeting; they plan and coordinate all of the miniscule details.
This year we pause to recognise the outstanding service of the competent and dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the wheels of ministry turning. May God continue to bless them and reward them according to His divine purpose.
