By Zhen Wu
“Your work is part of your life. Your life is part of your spirit. Your spirit is part of God’s eternal plan. One should look from God’s plan on him/her to make work-related decisions.” This is the deep insight from Roger Kung drawing out of his amazing career and life path. I would like to share how it guided me to see through the mist of my career and life path and starting to piece together what’s God’s in my life.
Compared to Roger’s successful career path in some of the most prestigious companies in the world, I only have a simple career path with only 3 major turns so far. I graduated in 1994 from Penn State University with a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering specializing in acoustics, noise/vibration control. I started my 1st job in a small consulting company in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After working there for about 2 years, the company had some management changes and my project was coming to an end. I started to look for other opportunities. At the time, it’s many people’s dream to work for one of the big 3 car companies in Michigan. However, it is difficult to get direct hire in those companies. One has to work as a contractor for many years with high performance ratings in order to get hired as a regular employee. On one Friday afternoon, I went to an interview for a contract position at Ford Motor Company. I thought I answered every question well, but the hiring manager was very upset when I told him I am available in one month’s time as I need to finish the project with my current company. When I, later on, came to a student fellowship meeting that evening, I was still depressed about the outcome of my interview. After the meeting, a caring American co-worker named Dan came to me and asked what’s troubling me. I told him I was looking for a job and the strayed interview I had at Ford. He quietly wrote a name and phone number on a piece of paper and told me to call that person next Monday. I then called and the lady at the other end of the phone requested my resume, diploma, and other employment documents. 2 weeks later, to my surprise, I received an official offer letter from Ford Motor Company. I took the letter to the Friday fellowship meet and showed it to Dan. He smiled at me said: “I need to fill an open position in my department by year-end and you need a job in a month – a perfect match of timing! I knew the tough manager who interviewed you and he told me you are well qualified.” Thus, I joined Ford Motor Company in Nov. 1996 and made the 2nd turn in my career.
For the next 10 years, I worked my way up from an entry level engineer, to a technical expert, and then to a team leader. I was in a “comfort zone” in my career, my life, and my walk with God until 2007 when we moved to Connecticut due to my wife’s job transfer. I was reluctant to change my job and give up everything I worked hard for, so I commuted for 9 months from CT to MI every week (racking up a lot of airline miles). One day, Dan, the manager who hired me into Ford and then become the chief engineer managing 500 engineers, called me to his office and we had a serious talk. He said: “I understand your situation and you have to trust God has the best plan for you and will lead you to a higher ground.” After a few weeks, one of my mentors at Ford who is also a faithful Christian named Curt invited me to his house for dinner and a Bible study meeting. He and everyone in the Bible study group prayed for me about getting a job in CT. A few days later, I got a phone call from Curt and he said: “I think God answered our prayer. A long-time friend of mine who now is an HR manager of Pratt & Whitney called me and ask me to join his company as they just got a big Government contract. I told him I am about to retire but I will recommend a good candidate who is looking for jobs in CT.” I soon got an interview at Pratt & Whitney after I send in my resume. Halfway through the interview, the hiring manager told me: “We want to hire you and we will do our best to give you an offer that meets your expectations.” Thus, I joined Pratt & Whitney in May 2008 and made the 3rd turn in my career. If you recall what’s happened in the fall of 2008, the crashed housing market led to the bankruptcy of 2 out of the 3 automotive companies. Many of my friends and co-workers got laid off in Michigan, but I was spared. Looking back, God did lead me to a higher ground literally as I am now working on the jet engine that flies at 30,000 ft above. My walk with God is also at a higher level as I started serving as a deacon in a small Chinese church in CT.
Now I am facing the 4th turn in my career and life as we moved to the Boston area last summer. I don’t know what’s in store for me, but I am confident that God is faithful and He will lead me to even higher ground.
Thank God and thank CEA for bringing Roger to Boston again in April to share his life experiences with us. Through 1-1 meeting and email exchanges with Roger, I started to see God’s plan in every turns in my career and life path. Roger also coached me on how to make a career choice I am currently facing by being quiet in front of God and seeking His plan in my life. Revelation 1:8 states “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Let our lives all be part of his eternal grand plan, where we found the true meaning and fulfillment.
Zhen Wu
Dr. Wu is presently a Staff Engineer at PRATT & WHITNEY, designing and developing jet engines for commercial and military aircrafts. He received a Ph.D. degree in 1994 from PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, specialized in acoustics and structural vibration. He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1994. He has been serving in various churches in MI, DE, CT, and MA. He is a long-time member of Chinese Entrepreneur Association, and shares the vision of developing godly business leaders, professionals and teams, and create true business values.