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Mike lives in North Dakota where he works as a land surveyor. He enjoys the outdoors and hunting and loves Jesus.

I have been surveying across the upper Midwest for over 10 years. As a land surveyor, I feel like work takes up a huge portion of my life. I am on the road nearly every week, working 3000 hours per year. Spending my life on the road is not what I thought God had planned for my life. There has to be something more!

Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do, but I have often felt that I wanted to contribute more to the kingdom of God than just working a lot. I have even considered changing occupations so I can focus more of my time on God and His kingdom. Many times I have felt that God has directed me to this occupation as a recourse to provide for my family, but I still have a desire for ministry opportunities.

Seeing the Opportunity

This unique field of employment has allowed me to work with a wide variety of people, from engineers to fellow surveyors, construction workers and interns, from all over the country. Not only is this a unique occupation, but the Bakken Oil Boom has drawn people to this region, when they otherwise would not be here.

God revealed to me that this is an opportune moment to spread the Word of God to an industry that might not hear it otherwise.

My company hires interns from all over the country and assigns them to a crew. The job locations require lengthy traveling, which enables opportunity for conversations. It occurred to me that there are several hours per week where I am stuck with my co-workers in a vehicle, and that this is a great chance for me to share my testimony and what I have seen God do in my life.

Sowing Seed

One such example is a Muslim man from Kenya. He moved to the United States and is currently going to school to be a civil engineer. The particular time frame that he was to work with me was during the month of Ramadan. This month required him to not eat or drink during the day and to pray and wash five times per day. I proceeded to ask him questions about Islam, which allowed me to also start sharing about Jesus, the teachings of the Bible and how the two faiths differ.

During his prayer times, I would also pray and show him that it is more than just about works and deeds, it is about a relationship with Jesus Christ. As we spoke he explained that if he doesn’t follow the rules of the Koran that Allah won’t approve and allow him into paradise. I explained to him that if he wanted to know for sure that he would be in paradise, all he has to do is confess that Jesus is Lord and repent of his sins.

He mentioned that if he was to follow Jesus, he would be disowned from his family. I didn’t get the opportunity to personally lead him to Christ during our time working together.

However,  I realized that maybe my occupation allows for a far bigger ministry opportunity then I had ever imagined.

You never know where or when you will be able to plant a seed or how it will grow.

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