Sixty-one year-old accountant Steve Jacques of Delmar was well compensated throughout his career for risk analysis and financial analysis, and this knack gave him a bit of a prophetic edge.
Yet when it came to his retirement years, his expectations were about as far off as off could be.
“If you had asked me at 20, 30, 40 or even 50 years of age if I would retire early to spend more time on family, ministry and getting my doctorate in practical theology, I would have predicted that at zero percent,” he laughs.
He believes that this tectonic philosophical shift is the result of God changing his values.
“I knew the pleasures of this world,” the successful auditor of public companies said. “And I had these skills that I thought were secular, and yet God led me to places where I could make a difference in the lives of people.”
Some of the roles of his redirected life are his work as the treasurer of the Capital City Rescue Mission which helps the homeless, advisor to Harvest India that trains pastors and runs a children’s home for girls in Bangalore, missions moderator at Bethlehem Community Church in Delmar and as an active member of The Gideons International that distributes bibles.
His work experience has given him the unique ability to integrate scriptural ethics with the pragmatism and prediction of risk analysis in order to help leaders of non-profits differentiate the practical nuances of faith versus presumption.
“Forecasting can assist in breaking down complicated decision making, keep everyone accountable, add a measure of discernment and realism so groups don’t overextend and avoid some very painful paths for leaders,” he said.
Jacques feels that this is an assertive way to show his love for “brothers and sisters in leadership and come alongside them.”
He might not have predicted his post-60 era very well, but the accountant has discovered some golden years in the ledger of his retirement years.
Robert J. LaCosta writes daily. To subscribe for his free devotional, send a request to [email protected] or call 435-1250. His new devotional book, “Portals To Heaven,” will be out in October.