Even though she felt it providential that she was able to work here, REGINA JOSEPH had her doubts that she was participating in the mission when she first arrived at Loma Linda. “I was a high school teacher for fifteen years, so I was always interacting with students. This job is always in front of the computer,” Regina explains. “I wanted to serve the Lord, I wanted to be there for people.”
Regina, a Gift Records Specialist in Philanthropy Services, began asking herself, “Am I doing something for somebody? Am I changing somebody’s life?” Until one day on her way home from work, something changed her perspective.
“One day when I was going home on the bus I got off at my stop and I was just walking and tears were just rolling down my face,” Regina begins. “I just said, ‘Lord, use me.’ And then God put in my heart. He said, ‘You’re worrying about people? How many peoples’ checks come through your office? You can pray for every single one of them.’”
Now, as a check passes her desk, Regina prays for each donor.
“Whether it was a $100,000 check or if it was just a $10 check written with shaky handwriting, I started putting a person to the check,” says Regina. “When I commit a batch to process, I tell my Lord, ‘Into thy hands I commit this group of people.’”
Regina occasionally works with students from the University who are seeking scholarships. Recently, a student who had been admitted into Medical School but didn’t have enough funding to attend was directed to Philanthropy.
“He would call every morning and say, ‘Did I get any donations?’” Regina says. “And I would have to say, ‘Not today, not today.’ But then the donations started coming in for him and he was so happy. I put his name in front of me and every day I would pray for him that he would somehow get the money for it.”
Regina continued to tell the student’s story to donors that were interested in giving, and eventually the student was able to attend.
“You know, when you put your brains to work, it’s good. But when you put your heart to the brain, that’s even better. We’re trying to get turnover time, which is important, but more than that we should show love and the values our institution stands for,” explains Regina. “When you show that you have the time for them, it makes a lot of difference.”
Regina believes in proactively encouraging the values of Loma Linda in her office and recently established a day of prayer for the department, where the Advancement team took one entire day to pray for each other and the leadership of Loma Linda University Health.
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ANGEL QUINN, a Data Specialist for Philanthropy Services, knows that it was the hand of God that led her here to work at Loma Linda. Angel previously worked at a non-profit counseling center. The center was downsizing, so Angel was looking for new opportunities. Angel saw the job posting for her position in Philanthropy, and was going to apply for the position at Human Resources, but had to leave unexpectedly to pick up her husband.
“I went and got him, then came back and the position had been taken down already,” Angel explains “I was discouraged because the description of the position was so similar to what I was doing at my previous job.”
Angel had been praying about it, and decided to call about the position anyway.
“They transferred me to Ramona at the front desk of Philanthropy Services. She told me that although the position had been taken down, she would talk to the director and have him call me back,” says Angel. “I thought to myself, ‘The director’s not going to call me back. He’s probably a really busy person!’”
The director did call Angel back and asked her to apply, then asked her to come in for an interview. The evening after her interview, Angel accepted a job at Loma Linda, a decision she doesn’t regret.
“We start the week with worship and we close the week with worship. That is something I haven’t seen anywhere else. You don’t dread coming because you’re not afraid to talk about God and to pray,” says Angel. “They really care about the employees.”
Angel enjoys work in a place where spirituality and wholeness are a central part of work, and where service is a main focus.
“Working in Philanthropy, if there’s a situation where the child is hurting or in need, you can connect with the right people and things can happen,” explains Angel. “We get involved, and it’s a different mentality here. It’s just been amazing and I love working here.”
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RAMONA JACKSON, an assistant in Philanthropy Services, believes in living to give back.
“When you’ve been given to, you pass it forward, you give back and you share,” says Ramona. “And you just watch God work in ways that you’ve never seen, that only the hand of God can do.”
Enthusiastic about the mission that she lives every day, Ramona enjoys coming to work.
“I sincerely love what I do because this organization has truly blessed me,” she continues.
Shortly before Ramona started working here at Loma Linda, her daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer, a difficult journey during which she says she wasn’t travelling alone.
“I had so many people – even people I didn’t know – that were right there supporting me and helping me along the way,” continues Ramona.
“To be part of such a movement is to be part of something greater than me. I’m grateful to God to be part of this, and that’s why I get up and come to work every day. There are sick people here. And there are young people trying to go to school, and there are researchers who are discovering new cures,” Ramona says. “For me, to allow the Holy Spirit to use me in a way that I can be a difference, and that someone may see Christ in me, that’s what it’s all about.”
Even though Ramona has been part of the Adventist church her whole life, she never knew God would lead her here.
“I used to think God brought me here because of my daughter. But it is far greater than that. Because I know one day I will see my daughter again, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be involved,” says Ramona. “It’s not about fame, it’s about getting this work done so that we can go home to be with our Savior.”