Plum graduate believes God chose his career move from medical sales to ministry
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Medical laboratory sales may not be the usual path to ministry, but it is the path followed by the Rev. James "Jim" Kirk.
For 26 years, Rev. Kirk worked in the sales arena before he "followed God's plan" and entered Pittsburgh Theological Seminary to pursue a master's degree in divinity.
After graduating from Plum High School, Rev. Kirk pursued a bachelor's degree in biology from Westminster College. In his junior year, he started weighing career options.
"I was trying to decide whether or not I wanted to go to dental school, when I decided to pursue something else," he said. "I wanted to work with people, but knew I didn't want to teach." It was then he learned about medical sales and landed a job fairly soon after graduation with Gilford Instruments in Cleveland.
From there, he moved with his wife to Minneapolis, where he was in charge of his own sales territory.
"We were there for 10 years when I was offered a job back in Pittsburgh," he said. His wife, Kathy, also was from Pittsburgh, so they considered it a move back home. When she was able to transfer to a better job with the company that she worked with, the couple considered it all part of "God's hand" in leading them to their future in the ministry.
"It took me eight years for God to convince me that I should pursue the ministry. I had a very successful career that I loved, but the more money that I made, the more uncomfortable I became," he said.
Even though he felt drawn to the ministry, Rev. Kirk said he kept "coming up with excuses" on why he shouldn't make such a major career change.
"I kept saying I couldn't afford it, I had a daughter going to college, I couldn't go back to school, I had two cars to pay off, I had a house -- etc. etc.," he said.
First Published February 23, 2012 5:06 am
