Working 6 to 7 days a week along with long hours isn’t the exact recipe for a successful work-life balance, let alone family.  

​As with any business, to be successful you need to be willing to put the energy into your work, the people you manage, and customers you interact with.  Prior to 2016, I was feeling more and more personal pressure to find a work-life balance knowing that my current path would not be easy and likely fall short of what I wanted to achieve.

My story really begins when I was elevated to a leadership role in 2013 within the company.  As the youngest General Manager in the company, I was opening two restaurants and a conference center while managing nearly 150 employees.  My focus was solely on the operations of the business and building a strong team around me. 

Fast forward 3 years to 2016.  Work was going very well but continuing at the pace I was going was likely going to burn me out.  I was forced to focus on long term priorities for the business and myself.  Achieving a balance of work and life would require very intentional decisions and proper training for at least the next 5 years. 

I was willing to commit but knew it was going to be long weeks, little time off, and continued to focus on the goals at hand.  With God knowing the roadmap I slated out for myself He threw a curveball at me…my dad mentioned GPS Life Journey to me.  He explained that it was geared toward retirees that were looking to find God’s plan and personal purpose for their next phase in life.  However, he pitched it as a class that we could complete together and it may provide clarity for myself.  I agreed to complete the class with him and the rest is history.

GPS Life Journey is exactly what I needed at the time and God knew it.  He led me there and was able to provide clarity beyond any book I had read or devotion I had completed.  GPS provided me with an understanding of my talents and God-given gifts.  I had always been aware of my strengths and some of my struggles but GPS was able to not only highlight this but also put it on paper as a personal roadmap.  That roadmap identified critical components of my personality and how I can inject those into my life and a career.  

Then God showed up.  Pastor Bruce Schoeman encouraged me to visit with a gentleman that he felt had a similar story as mine.  We were introduced and I was fortunate to spend two hours asking questions and trying to understand my “WHY”.  To this day I can remember the advice that was given to me, “The longer you do not pursue your WHY, the further away it moves”.  For once I felt the confidence to make a decision, a decision that was never so clear.  I needed to leave my job and pursue another career.  

Two weeks later I would type a letter that I wouldn’t not have been able to prior to GPS.  I put in my month's notice.  Not a job lined up, not a resume built, not an application submitted.  I didn’t know where life would take me but I knew my time with my current employer needed to come to an end.  I ended up taking 4 months off to travel, spend time with family and friends, and pursue my next career. 

Long story short, the gentleman I sought advice from worked for a local investment firm which at the time was not looking to add anyone new to their firm, nor was I looking to work a “desk” job.  However, through a few conversations with the owner he felt led to bring me on.  Note that I did not have investment or financial schooling prior.  But he wasn’t looking for that, he was looking for someone that shared the same values, morals, and faith.  He was confident in teaching me how to manage investments but he was more confident in my talents and God-given abilities, many of which were identified during my GPS journey.

If it wasn’t for GPS Life Journey, I wouldn’t have left my job or found my current career.  God had set me up to attend this class and meet a future co-worker prior to me knowing.  GPS Life Journey was the tool for me during that phase of my life.  Since then, I see GPS as a tool for not only those looking for purpose in retirement but those looking for purpose in life and their career.  This process helps identify who you are and how you may use those skills to be successful in life.  Whether you are 23 or 63, you should go through your own personal discovery of your gift and talents and GPS Life Journey is the perfect tool."

You can discover your GPS Life Journey at one of our in person or online via zoom events.  Check out what is happening on our EVENTS page or use the Contact page to get in touch with your questions.

Let us encourage you, if you are a GPS Life Journey Facilitator, to make conversations about GPS Life Journey, a part of what you talk about every day, in all situations.  Or at least most situations. 

You'd be surprised how many times it is appropriate and a natural conversation.  For you to talk about God's purposes for peoples lives. 

The most difficult part about being a GPS Life Journey Facilitator is NOT facilitating a small group.  It is getting people enlisted in a small group. The way you get people enlisted in a small group is you talk about it.  You talk about it wherever you are and with whoever you are meeting with.  Talk about GPS Life Journey and the importance of knowing and fulfilling God's purpose for your life.  

Let us encourage you.  Don't sit and wait for people to come to you!  Make it a part of your daily conversation.  God bless.

For more GPS Life Journey Facilitator tips and support, please join the monthly call, every third Friday at 9am ET. See the Events page to RSVP.

This month's story is from Keith Nelson's GPS testimony!

"I had the opportunity to go through a GPS small group presented by our church in 2017. During the course I was challenged to look at my current career along with what I felt God was calling me to in my next career. At that time, I believed I was 5-8 years from retirement. The program was laid out well by first focusing on my God given strengths, which seemed to be servanthood-through ushering, greeting, helping at church behind the scenes.

One of our assignments was to develop my personal GPS Life Journey Road Map for the rest of my life. We were encouraged to do that during our prayer time and allow the Lord to speak into that statement.

My wife Kammy and I were on a business trip when I found time one afternoon to just stop and rest at the desk in the hotel room and allow the Lord to speak to my heart. I felt the Lord simply laid out a plan that spoke to me so deeply and positively that I knew it was from Him. I sensed Him impressing me with-look at all the talent I have given you in the construction industry, don’t waste it on just those who can afford it.

He also revealed how my heart hurt for those in my life that had suffered lost or divorce. Both my sisters had divorced and one of my sisters husband committed suicide. Even though she was very strong and appeared to be able to manage all the issues of home ownership on her own, I knew she needed encouragement and support. 

That made the vision of helping widows and single moms clear almost immediately. The Lord allowed me to write a simple plan: “My personal mission statement is to fulfill needs thru works of service to those in need so they will be introduced to the love of Christ.”

The vision for the next stages of my life:

*I envision people’s lives less stressful thru my works of service.

*I envision starting a ministry outreach for the single moms and widows.

*I envision people’s eyes being able to focus on the love of Christ thru random acts of kindness.

My action steps were:

1. Explore single mom’s ministry teams online.

2. Find out if there were any current groups offering similar services in our community. 

3. Ask for prayer from church leadership to sharpen the vision.

The ironic thing about this entire testimony is that during the time of reflection and hearing from the Lord-I was a secret but functioning alcoholic. The Lord delivered me from that bondage November 10, 2019! This resulted in a new passion for the ministry to start. 

I shared my vision for this ministry with our small home group and a good friend stated he wanted to join me in this ministry. We approached the church and asked our Senior Pastor Keith Kerstetter for his thoughts and asked if the church would support this ministry. His response was overwhelming. He said he’d been waiting 20 years for someone to come forward with this, as he also had a vision for this ministry

Since then, we’ve spoken to a men’s breakfast and had 43 guys sign up to help with the SWAT team. (Servants With A Toolbelt) We’ve participated in 9 different projects with about 15 guys helping on different projects. Some of the projects included helping a single mom of 6 children replace a broken tub, repair structural posts and repair broken sewer lines. We’re currently completing a bathroom for a single mom with 3 children who lost her husband a year ago. We may be able to send a couple guys on a missions trip to Romania this fall to help paint and do repairs on a girls home. 

With the Lord’s help, this ministry will continue to bless all who we serve, but it truly blesses us that we get to help others." 

Keith Nelson, Ter Wisscha Construction Company, Willmar, MN

If you're interested in participating in the GPS Life Journey process then check out the EVENTS happening in person and online.  Or learn more here!  We look forward to helping you discover God's plan for you.

Greetings from the GPS Life Journey HQ office in Lenoir City, Tennessee.  We hope you are having a great week and that God is using you to make a difference in the lives of others!

Proverbs 25 is one of Nolen Rollin's favorite verses of scripture.  It says the purpose in a man's heart is like deep water but a man of understanding will draw it out.

That's especially significant for GPS Life Journey Facilitators all around the world.  Everybody has a God given purpose.  For most people it is deep in their hearts somewhere and they can't find it!  But a person of understanding, like those of you who are GPS Life Journey Facilitators are a person of understanding, can help draw it out.

Nolen says, "I trust you will continue to be faithful in helping others draw out of their heart God's purpose for the next stage of their lives.  God bless."

This month's story is from Linda Seehusen GPS testimony!

"My GPS journey started about 20 years ago during a sermon where a missionary was speaking.  She was about 70 years old with medical problems and was traveling around the world doing mission work.  I sat there thinking that if she could do that, why wasn’t I doing anything. 

​Later that day, while I was doing dishes, I felt that God told me that I should be a nurse.  This was the furthest thing from my mind. 

We have been in a four month transition!  Nolen Rollins is now established in his new office for GPS Life Journey HQ.  This is for all of our global outreach in Lenoir City, Tennessee at the First Baptist Church of Lenoir City.

We are set up and open for shop!  We are looking for you to contact us on how we can help you mobilize people for the kingdom.  We exist to multiply resources and individuals for kingdom service.  We are here to serve you.

Let us know how we can serve you by contacting Nolen Rollins at Nolen@kingmo.org.  Or you can leave a comment or use the Contact page.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Nigeria’s Pastor Dr. Yemi Alfred faced her greatest tragedy. Recently, she and her family were deeply saddened by the loss of her 18-year-old, beautiful daughter, Miss Shekinah Alfred, who was tragically killed in a ghastly motor accident. Both Dr. Alfred and her daughter were graduates of GPS Life Journey.
 
Pastor Alfred, who has a personality that faces every life situation with great confidence, now must rely on God’s grace and comfort alone. And, as it has been true in every other situation of life, God has faithfully sustained her and her family through this difficulty.
 
Doctor Yemi faces life with a sense of purpose. She understands why God has her here on earth. She is accustomed to living in a hostile environment with church bombings and terror an on-going threat in Nigeria.
 
Several years ago, a team of Americans went to Nigeria to facilitate a GPS Life Journey Summit. Dr Yemi participated in this workshop experience and discovered her personal profile and gifting, her personal mission statement and purpose in life, and how to turn her vision into reality.
 
“GPS Life Journey has helped me to focus and not be confused over what God wants me to do. I no longer just focus on church planting but on helping others discover their calling so that many now are involved in church planting.”
 
Since participating in the GPS Life Journey process, she has helped hundreds of others discover who they are and their purposes in life by facilitating multiple GPS groups. “I have taken GPS Life Journey to prisons, shared it with Muslims, Hindus and many other non-believers. I invite couples who are having problems in their relationships to participate in the GPS Life Journey process. I use it with teenagers and next gen young people” 

Nolen Rollins sends greetings from the golf course in the foothills of the smokey mountains in East Tennessee.  He has successfully relocated the GPS Life Journey Headquarters Office to East Tennessee.  It's been his pleasure today to have played a round of golf with his older brother Willard.  They enjoyed being outdoors in God's creation.  

When you retire, it's wonderful to be able to play golf or tennis or go to the beach.  But don't let retirement be just pleasure and entertainment.  God has a purpose for your life and at every stage of your life.  There is never a time in your life that He doesn't have a special purpose and plan for you.

We encourage you, even in your retirement to discover God's plan for your life and be busy bringing him glory, serving Him in the Kingdom of God.

Check out events happening online and in person - you can register today for GPS Life Journey! 

GPS Life Journey greetings from the Great Smokey Mountains in East Tennessee.  We wish for everyone a wonderful Easter season.  Easter is special for all followers of Christ.  Easter is so related to what we do at GPS Life Journey.  
In John 17:4, Jesus Christ himself said, "Father I have brought great glory to you, completing the work you sent me to do here on earth."  That work of course was to go to the cross.
The essence of the Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It makes sense to Nolen, if Jesus brought great glory to God by completing this specific assignment that God had for him here on earth. 
​We too will bring glory to God when we discover God's specific purpose and assignment for each of us.  When we fulfill that we will bring great glory to God.
Happy Easter to everyone all around the world from GPS Life Journey.

Hello from GPS Life Journey and Global Head Quarters here in South West Florida (SW FL).  This will actually be the last video message from Nolen in SW FL.  As the global office will be relocating to East Tennessee.
Nolen and his wife will be moving to East Tennessee where they are from originally.  Continuing the great work of GPS Life Journey at a new global office.  Just west of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Here in SW FL, we have an excellent leadership team that will continue to serve GPS graduates and future participants.  A team led by Renee Porter-Medley.
We look forward to continuing to meet your needs here in SW FL.  As well as starting a new movement in East Tennessee.  We look forward to sharing announcements about upcoming GPS Life Journey small groups and Blitzes in East Tennessee in the coming year.  
Be sure to subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive more updates.