Sherry Atkinson

Sometimes God's clearest direction comes through the voices of multiple people speaking the same message. For Sherry Atkinson, that moment came in 2005 when she was wrestling with a difficult decision after 27 years at a CPA firm. The death of one of the partners had created uncertainty, and Sherry found herself praying with her coworkers about what direction to take.

When three different people called to tell her about a job opening at World Gospel Mission, the message was unmistakable. "It's like, okay, Lord," she remembers thinking. Twenty years later, as she prepares for retirement, that divine orchestration has proven to be one of the most significant decisions of her life.

One of fourteen children, Sherry lost her parents at a young age and was raised by her aunt and uncle in Fairmount, along with two of her sisters. Her aunt ensured the girls attended the local Wesleyan church with her husband’s mother, who was like a grandma to Sherry and whom she describes as "the most godly person I've ever known."

"I think God has people in place from the time we are born until we leave this earthly home," Sherry adds. "We are constantly being shaped. Of course, Jesus is the ultimate one shaping us!"

When Sherry arrived at WGM in October 2005, she brought skills from her previous career but also brought something more valuable—a heart seeking to align her work with her faith. During her exit interview at the CPA firm, her boss had asked what WGM could offer that she couldn't. Sherry's answer was simple but profound: "I want to grow deeper in my faith, and I feel like I can do that there."

Starting in payroll and missionary tax returns, Sherry quickly discovered the difference between having Christians in a workplace and having a truly Christian work environment. "Our department really emphasizes prayer,” she explains. “Whenever someone’s going through a crisis or struggling with something, we always get together in a circle and pray."

For someone who initially found praying aloud nerve-wracking, these department prayer circles became a catalyst for growth. "When I first started, they did it every Thursday... We would meet in a circle, and everyone would pray. I was like, I don't know if I can do this. I don't pray out loud very often. But you know what? That kind of brought me out of my comfort zone."

What Sherry treasures most about her role is the relationships she's built with missionaries around the world. Through payroll requests and tax work, she's connected with field personnel—some of whom she's never met face-to-face but who have become genuinely important to her.

"I love interacting with missionaries," she says. "I love listening to their testimony. I love how God's working with them on the field and how he's worked through them." When she faced the devastating loss of her sister and sister-in-law in 2021, it was these distant colleagues who reached out with support and prayer, demonstrating the global family that WGM represents. "The missionaries and support staff have been so supportive," she reflects, still moved by their care during her darkest moments.

Over her 20 years at WGM, Sherry's role has evolved from handling everything—bookkeeping, payroll, tax returns, and financial statements—to specializing more in payroll and related functions. She takes pride in the essential but often unseen work that keeps missionaries supported, and her greatest professional satisfaction comes not from recognition but from relationships. "What makes me the most proud is the relationships that I made with missionaries," she explains.

As Sherry enters retirement, her plans reflect the relationships and simple pleasures that matter most to her. She and Allen, her husband of 46 years, look forward to traveling and camping together, including a long-dreamed-of Alaskan cruise. Their annual family camping trips will also continue, and Sherry is excited to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. As she follows where the Lord leads, she is sure to continue blessing those she encounters with her sweet spirit and encouraging words.