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. 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 something more valuable than just her accounting skills—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." What she treasures most about her role is the relationships she's built with missionaries around the world. "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."
Over her 20 years at WGM, Sherry's 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, she and Allen, her husband of 46 years, look forward to traveling and camping together, including a long-dreamed-of Alaskan cruise. As she follows where the Lord leads, she is sure to continue blessing those she encounters with her sweet spirit and encouraging words.