Take a Risk and Do Something

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Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated Reading Time: 3 min.

Mr. Tyler Wayne began this forum by telling the Living Education students about his experiences in self-starting businesses.

In his life, he had previously made four, including a contracting company and a coffee food truck. He explained what he felt was the most important thing he got out of the lifespans of these businesses: experience. This helped him to better grow his ability to handle risk management. Mr. Wayne instructed the students on how to better be able to handle the risks that they will have to take in their own lives.

Common Entrepreneurial Risks

Mr. Wayne explained many of the types of risks that can occur in the world of self-starting businesses. The first is “operational error,” which has to do with accidents on the job or equipment malfunction. Secondly, “incorrectly bidding,” meaning that you miscalculate the cost or scope of an asset or project. Finally, “customer satisfaction,” meaning that your work may not meet the customer’s expectations, and they may withhold their payment (which may prompt you to bring lawyers into the matter, thereby creating bigger problems). One personal example of operational error for Mr. Wayne occurred when his wife used a new truck they had bought to tow their coffee shop around, which ended up getting caught in the underside of a bridge, because it was just a little taller than their previous vehicle! In a way, they had also incorrectly bid the height of the bridge, as well. From this, they were still able to gain valuable experience, even when it may have cost them.

Risky Business

Mr. Wayne gave several steps as to how to better deal with risky business. First is to assess and mitigate, which requires researching what you are doing, planning it all out, starting small in order to gain experience in your work, understanding what you are getting into, not biting off more than what you can chew, learning to deal with setbacks, and, finally, getting after it. He mentioned to also keep in mind the 99% Rule, meaning that out of every hundred times you run the scenario, you will fail one time. When you do end up failing, being able to mitigate the damage is essential for keeping good business. If it ends up going poorly, you will still gain experience from it, and learn how to better deal with it the next time.

Mr. Wayne concluded his forum by stating bluntly, “Everything you do in life is a risk!” Your career, education, and relationships are all risks. Every choice you make has an opportunity cost, so it’s better for you to take risks, make mistakes, and grow in experience. Do something!

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Build on a Rock

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Author: Nathan Kroon | Student Leader, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated Reading Time: 4 min.

Dr. Douglas Winnail began this forum by addressing how much the world has changed in comparison to the world he grew up in.

For example, sixty years ago, homosexuality was relatively unknown and transgenderism was barely a concept. Dr. Winnail said that when he was in high school, several guys smoked cigars at graduation—and that was a big deal—yet today, deadly drugs like fentanyl are rampant in our world and accessible to people of all ages, even children.

Today, people tend to go along with rising and fluctuating trends in our culture, rather than building a solid foundation of God’s way of life—as illustrated in the parable of building a house on a rock or shifting sand (Matthew 7:24-27). In colonial America, well over 90 percent of people were professing Christians. Yet today, over 42  percent of young adults are non-religious, and 29 percent of all adults are as well. As more and more young people lose their religion, their children will likely lose theirs, too. This does not bode well for individuals or our nation. There are many factors in our modern society that are influencing people—especially young people—to discourage them from building a godly foundation for their lives.

The Impact of the Internet

Ever since the creation and popularization of the internet, there has been a dramatic increase in secular activities in our world, as well as religious skepticism. This has turned many people into critics and pessimists and made it easy for deceptive “politically correct” movements to dominate the media and the internet and turn our nation’s public education systems into brainwashing facilities. Today the positive aspects of Western history and culture—especially our Bible-based moral foundation—are ignored and denigrated while dangerous liberal agendas are promoted. The Internet is a powerful tool that is undermining fundamental biblical values that once guided our nation and individuals in our nation.

What makes the Bible special?

The United States of America was founded on godly principles, but those principles are quickly disappearing and becoming unheard of. Leaders like Abraham Lincoln and John Adams used the Bible as a guide in their personal lives and presidential careers, but now children and teachers often ridicule a student who might bring a Bible to school or quote it in class. It did not used to be this way. King David had a profound respect for God’s word and he regarded God’s law as a lamp to his feet and a light to his path (Psalm 119:105)—but we are losing that vital perspective today.

Dr. Winnail concluded by encouraging the students to study the Bible diligently and pray every day. He then gave several points on what makes the Bible unique among other religious books of the world. The Bible has been accurately preserved by the Jews throughout history (Romans 3:1-2). The Dead Sea Scrolls have confirmed that the ancient text of the books of the Bible has been almost immaculately preserved. Unlike other religious books, the Bible contains hundreds of prophecies that have come true and accounts of historical events that have since been verified  by artifacts and ancient documents. The Bible also provides answers to the big questions of life: why we are here, what happens when we die, and what the future holds for mankind. Sadly, we live in an age when biblical illiteracy is widespread and growing, and few are even aware of the value of biblical principles for living. This is why it is important for young people to build their lives on the Rock that is Christ and the word of God.

Nathan Kroon is a Student Leader at Living Education. He originally hails from Washington State and is a 4th generation Christian. Currently, he works at Headquarters as a Video Editor and is the Lead Landscaper at the LivingEd dorms. His hobbies include playing guitar, listening to music, drawing, and watching movies.

Working in the Maintenance Department

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Author: Kaleb Johnson | Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2022-23

Estimated reading time: 4 min.

Here’s a look at the students in the Maintenance Department for the Living Education work/study program. 

Maintenance can cover a wide range of duties, and it can be different from company to company. So what is it like working as a student in the Maintenance Department here at the Living Church of God Headquarters? Today’s post answers that question by exploring the duties of two Maintenance Department employees: David Smith and Andrew McNair. This post also features personal comments from the students about their position and their experience working so far. 

Andrew McNair works as a Maintenance Assistant, maintaining the building and grounds and assisting on renovation projects. 

Andrew McNair is one of two students working in the Maintenance Department. Prior to accepting this position, he had experience with carpentry and renovation, but he has learned many new skills in this position and developed greater proficiency with skills he already had. He described how he learned more about the nuisances of painting and carpentry projects in this position. 

Andrew’s Main Roles in the Maintenance Department:
  • Loading equipment truck for Church services (every week)
  • Inspecting emergency exit signs (at least once a month)
  • Inspecting fire extinguishers (at least once a month)
  • Checking the office grounds for trash
  • Assisting with renovation projects 

Most fun part of the job? “A couple days ago, we started organizing the tools and stuff, because there are a lot of random things back there [the maintenance corner of the warehouse storage area]. It was great to see it all sorted out finally. There’s a lot of chaos back there.”

Most challenging part of the job? “Not really knowing how long we’ll being doing a project or what the next step will be. Who knows? It could be a week-long project or twenty minutes. It can be all over the place.”

Most recent renovation project? “We were putting up some doors upstairs over some printing paper on a shelf. We started working on it, and we were halfway done when we discovered it was impossible to put door hinges up there based on how the walls were built. It’s drywall and nothing behind it. We weren’t able to finish it, but it was a neat project to start.”

David Smith is also a Maintenance Assistance working to maintain the building and grounds and assisting on renovation projects.

David Smith is the other student who works in this department. Prior to working with the Maintenance Department, he did not have a great deal of experience with carpentry or electrical work, but now he has developed skills in both of these areas and is confident in his ability to “build a wall with two-by-fours and sheet rock.” 

David’s Main Roles in the Maintenance Department:
  • Being grunt labor for projects
  • Replacing light bulbs
  • Inspecting emergency exit signs (at least once a month)
  • Inspecting fire extinguishers (at least once a month)
  • Checking the office grounds for trash

Most fun part of the job? “Sometimes, you get to hit things out with hammers. That’s really low-brow but it’s the most fun part. One time there was a piece of furniture that we needed to fit in the dumpster, so we got to hit it with a sledge-hammer to make it smaller.”

Most challenging part of the job? “Probably the lack of consistency, because some days it’s non-stop work and then others you jump from one task to another. What you’re doing one day may or may not be completely separate from what you’re doing the next day.”

Most recent renovation project? “Today we went to the girls’ dorm and fixed random things. We fixed the alarm by doing the high-skill labor of replacing some batteries. We fixed a leak in the roof that was causing water damage. We tried to fix the downstairs bathroom, but that’s a problem that needs actual plumbers.”

Working and Learning: Part of the Living Ed. Experience. 

All of the work/study positions not only provide students with an income, but also give valuable experience that will benefit the students throughout their lives. Both David and Andrew are learning new skills and honing those they already possess. Working in the Maintenance Department involves a variety of projects and tasks—so much so that unpredictability was the most challenging aspect of the position for Andrew and David—but all of those projects are good experiences in a hands-on type of job. I’m sure these workers will never shirk away from a home renovation project now!

We did a similar post discussing working in the Living Education Department that you may find interesting.

Kaleb Johnson is a student in the Living Education-Charlotte Program. He graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the spring of 2022. In addition, Kaleb enjoys writing, video-making, trying new activities (anything and everything), playing chess, and debating (it’s not arguing!) with people. He currently works in the Living Education department producing written content & videos and helping with a variety of other projects.