In college, I was the head of a planning committee for our missions conference. Of the eight on the committee, I was the only person who wasn’t a “ministry major.” I was a public relations major. Though I felt slightly inadequate for my position, I was passionate about missions. But public relations doesn’t have the best reputation. PR practitioners are sometimes known for lying or “spinning” the truth. What was I, a PR major, doing as head of a missions conference committee? Shouldn’t it have been someone who was training for the pastorate or missions field? 

When the conference speaker arrived at the event, he tried to get to know everyone on the committee, asking the normal questions: where we were from, how we got to that school, what our major was, etc. 

When he asked me what my major was, I quickly answered, “Public-relations-but-I-have-a-minor-in music ministries and will probably pursue a job as a worship pastor.” I tried to jump over my PR degree and focus on the area of study I felt was more “spiritual.”  

The speaker stopped me in my tracks. “There’s nothing wrong with PR, Natalie,” he said. “Pastors and missionaries aren’t able to take the gospel to some of the people you will. Pastors and missionaries don’t often end up in PR firms. You will.” 

Wow. He totally validated me during a time I felt completely inadequate and “worldly” in not pursuing a ministry degree. He made me realize something: God gifted me to use me in unique ways for His glory. God had gifted me in the area of public relations.  

God had gifted me. 

His validation that God could use my PR degree changed my entire outlook on life….no longer was I an upcoming PR practitioner who happened to be a Christian. Now I was a Christian PR practitioner, empowered that my gifts would be used for His Kingdom.   

This truth is backed up in scripture. God had chosen and gifted Bezalel to design and construct the sanctuary of Israel’s Tabernacle. Bezalel wasn’t even a Levite, Israel’s priestly tribe. Bezalel, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen to work on the Tabernacle. 

God’s gifted you in the same way…there’s a place of unique and distinct ministry only you’re gifted and equipped for—whether at the construction site, a clothing store, a dentist’s office or anywhere else God’s placed you.  

–Natalie Grillo

No matter your interest or vocation, God has given it to you to use in unique ways for Him.

© 2002. Kingdom Building Ministries.