Trusting God With My Career
When asked how Live Events Producer and Project Manager Sophia Mattison began working for The Salvation Army Central Territory, the short answer was God. But the long answer was that God had a plan, which has brought her so much joy and career satisfaction over the last 18 years.
Before working for The Salvation Army, Sophia aspired to be a music video director. She worked at various television studios while attending college, took production assistant jobs, and eventually found her way to New York City. But despite working for a well-known television network and freelancing independent films, television shows and stations, she found it impossible to cover all of her bills. It was time to make a change.
“I decided to move back home, return to school, and look for a local job. My mom, a Salvation Army soldier at the Des Plaines Corps in Illinois, was teaching English as a second language. And she kept encouraging me to get involved and help her, but I really wasn’t interested. Eventually, I did it just to keep the peace,” she said.
Sophia could not have imagined that volunteering would open the doors to a career she loves so much. It started when she met the Corps officer at the time, Major Pedro Arias. Through several conversations he learned about her struggle to find a job, and one day, he appeared with a printout of open positions at The Salvation Army Central Territory. Sophia accepted the information and applied for the role of Assistant Director for the Bible Correspondence Ministry.
“Initially, I didn’t want to apply for the job—but I did. After I interviewed for it and was offered the role, I came to the realization that God was giving me a unique opportunity to help people. That’s when I decided to surrender my career to Him,” she said.
At the time, the Bible Correspondence Ministry sent Bible study materials and workbooks via the U.S. Post Office to prisons throughout 11 states. Inmates would read the materials, complete the workbook, and then mail it back to The Salvation Army where volunteers would grade them. The bible study participants received a certificate of completion to commemorate their efforts after every module.
One of Sophia’s responsibilities was to type out those certificates. “I remember lovingly packaging them alongside the workshop materials. I knew how important it was for everyone to hear the Word of God and experience hope, even those who are incarcerated. And you know, while I enjoy what I'm currently doing, every now and again I miss it [working for the Bible Correspondence Ministry],” she said.
After Sophia’s first five years with The Salvation Army, she saw a job opening as a production assistant in the Visual Communications Department. That role was the perfect blend of her existing skills and long-term interests.
“I felt a strong prompting to pursue it. It took about six months between when I applied, interviewed, and was hired, but I truly believe the stars aligned for me. And again, God had a role in it,” said Sophia.
Today, she continues to be a valued employee who helps the Visual Communications Department produce a variety of live territorial events. They include commissioning, an intercultural conference, and everything in between.
“I’m a bit of a ringmaster. I liaise with officers and other departments and interpret technical jargon for those who aren’t familiar with production terms. My job is to organize chaos, and I really enjoy it,” said Sophia. “Our team is comprised of vibrant, fun-loving creatives and a terrific manager. If anyone is on the fence about working for The Salvation Army, I’d tell them to just go for it! It could be one of the best adventures you ever had, and why deny yourself that?”
If you, or someone you know, is looking for a career where their efforts will be #DoingTheMostGood, visit us at https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/employment/