My happiness over that increment was, however, short-lived as two months after receiving that increase, overall sales in the company dipped and though I had brought in revenue that more than paid for my own salary, I had to suffer a 10% pay cut. It didn't seem fair for all the hard work I had put in and contributions I had made, but I left things in God's hands as I felt deeply for the team the majority of whom I had trained and also didn't want to make things difficult for the company.

Over time, the situation in the company got worse and things didn't improve even after some people were laid off. When the year 2002 began, employees were greeted with a call to embrace a 50% salary reduction (on top of the one we had taken only a few months ago!) cum loan scheme that put me in a Catch 22 situation - I was already trying to get out of debt and taking a loan meant getting into more debt yet I needed finances to meet my existing loan payments as well as provide for my family and parents. It was also hard to swallow the fact that having worked for more than 10 years, I now had to contend with a basic salary that was the same as what I drew in the early years of my career.

I was very uncomfortable with the situation, continued to work hard and to pray and voiced my concerns to my employer, but there was little else that I could do. It was an extremely difficult time for me and the responsibility was a heavy one to bear, especially since my wife had by faith recently transited to a part-time job so she could spend more time with our son.

In the midst of all these events, I remembered the prophecies that God had communicated to His people through Brother Francis about how God was going to do a transfer of wealth to His people. I had heard testimonies from brothers and sisters at CVC on how God had blessed them with finances in the midst of the recession, so I was encouraged to trust God, to pray and claim on. I had lost my job before in an earlier economic downturn and experienced the Lord's miraculous deliverance as I walked in obedience and followed His leading, so I knew the Lord could do the same. But it was still tough to live with the uncertainties of not knowing when or how.

Around that time, God had also spoken through Brother Francis that He would establish a " Goshen " community in the midst of the "plagues" to protect and provide for those who loved and wanted to serve Him. But we also needed to walk right before Him as many would also miss the transfer of wealth. I began to seek God to check if there were openings in my life, so I could repent and be right before Him. I also began to pray for the Lord to deliver my family and me as I knew He could, and would!

Soon after, I had a call from an MNC asking if I was interested to consider an opportunity in the HR department. Proverbs 3:5-6 have always been a key principle and promise for me whenever I have to make a decision, so much as I was keen to discuss the role, I told the recruiter that I would have to pray first to see how God would lead me. As I sought the Lord in prayer, I sensed His leading to proceed and so agreed to the first interview. It went well and it led to an invitation for a further discussion. Again I told them I would seek God's direction first and proceeded only after I felt Father God was giving me the go-ahead.

The Lord's favor was upon me and shortly after that, I was asked if I was interested to join the company and if so, to give an indication about my salary expectations. Again I asked for time to pray before responding and began to intensify in prayer. It was not an easy decision and I went through an extremely agonizing time - there were many obstacles I had to overcome if I were to leave; I would be entering an industry that was new to me and where the outlook did not seem positive; I was torn between the desire to leave and to stay. I was really lost and asked the Lord for signs not even knowing if this was the right thing to do. But the Lord is ever so gracious and strengthened me. As I spent a day in His Presence, I asked the Lord for confirmation through five Scripture verses and through three people about what He wanted me to do. I also asked Him what salary figure I should revert with. In the days that followed, Father God gave me 10 verses from different parts of His Word and spoke to me through 5 people - all indicating the same action that I was to take. And He gave me a much higher salary figure than I would have asked for!!

It has now been some four months in the new company. God not only restored what had been stolen (John 10:10 ), but blessed me in more ways than I had anticipated both in and outside the workplace. In a time when the outlook still appears bleak for many people, I have found once more that God is indeed faithful and will always see His people through if we walk right before Him, trust in Him with all our heart, lean not on our own understanding and acknowledge Him in ALL our ways. By His grace, I have been able to give more to His Kingdom, pray on a regular basis with Christians at work who love the Lord, and minister to the lost and needy in the office - I know the Lord has indeed called me for a specific purpose in this new environment. TO GOD BE ALL GLORY!!

CHRIST IS LIFE!! The rest are details…