The Joseph Project Stories

Read Stories from The Joseph Project alumni:

"The most empty and alone I have ever felt was the day I carried a cardboard box of personal belongings to my car. I had just been laid off from a company where I had worked for 13 years; almost instantly I went from being a corporate employee to a national statistic. I had no idea how I was going to explain this to my wife and kids. I didn't know what I was going to do for income or where to turn for guidance. Most of my peers were in the same situation.

A friend told me about a group meeting at a local church. I knew I had to start circulating resumes and getting my name out there, so I began attending. The group was The Joseph Project, a ministry of WorkMatters. As miserable as I sometimes felt during the week, I always looked forward to seeing everyone at WorkMatters. The leaders had at one time experienced what I was going through and offered great encouragement. The best part was just belonging to a group of people who shared my frustration, need for help, and never-ending hope that God could be trusted to get us through the storm. Above all, The Joseph Project made me feel that I was not alone.

After a few months of attending, I looked at the job listings on The Joseph Project website for the first time. I have spent many hours looking at job descriptions on other websites, but this one was unlike any other. It described a position for a person with integrity...experience in this field would be nice, but the priority was integrity. I had never seen a listing stress this before, so I contacted the company immediately. Amazingly, the gentleman hiring was Bob Cantrell, a huge supporter of WorkMatters. There is no doubt in my mind that this position is where God wants me to be at this point in my life.

It took me over six months to find a job, and at times I felt like I was at the lowest point in my life. My wife got me through the hardest times by saying, 'Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...life is about dancing in the rain.' The storm won't last forever, and without the rain, there can be no new life.

I am truly thankful for everyone at WorkMatters and the ministry of The Joseph Project for giving me something to lean on during my struggle. I will do everything I can going forward to repay the kindness I was shown in hopes of helping someone else."

--Jarrod

"I am quite impressed with the ministry of WorkMatters - particularly The Joseph Project. That hit home with me since I have been unemployed for the last year. What a wonderful project! I wish I were in Arkansas. But not really. I firmly believe that God has brought my wife and I to Minnesota with purpose. So we press on and know that through the appropriate efforts and his grace, he will indeed provide. Thank you for your ministry through WorkMatters - especially to those who are unemployed. I can attest that the value of what you offer to those without jobs is beyond measure."

--Jonathon

Click here to read more stories from The Joseph Project participants