Well ladies and gentlemen, it's the Dona Box podcast and today both Chris and Micah are gonna just talk. Yeah, pre-flow baby. What you gotta say about that Chris? Yeah, it's one of those weeks. These are my favorite weeks where we get to just dive in, talk about what it is we have on the schedule. I like it man. It's always interesting. I love this structure but sometimes it's nice because you can just be talking and then segment or go through like man, I should have more time on.
Yeah heck yeah. And you know, a few weeks ago we talked about my career beginnings and where I'm at now and you know what? We're gonna talk about Chris. We're gonna talk about Chris and where he was at, where he's been in his career and where he's at now with it and anything in between because as we learned from the first one who knows what's gonna come up, right? So you know what? Let's do the intro. Hi, I'm Micah. And I'm Chris. And this is the Donald Box podcast.
Chris, without further ado on this very special free flow episode, let's just talk about you and your career path man. So you know, we've talked about it before. I don't know, we're probably not gonna go this far back but one of the jobs we actually did have together was at the boot crowd. So we actually worked over there together as you know from many of the stories. We actually helped get Chris the job over there.
I don't know if he's grateful for that or if he's like, man, you know, maybe that wasn't the best job in the world to get. I don't like the time that was there but if I could go back, I wouldn't, like there were parts of it that I would do over but I don't regret it. You know what I mean? Like everything happens for a reason and so I learned a lot of lessons from that job. So I don't regret it. Yeah, for sure.
Only reason I bring it up is because I'm gonna ask some questions later on about, you know, maybe how some things correlate back to that job. So what were some of the other jobs you had after that man? So you left boot corral and you could talk about how you left boot corral if you want. We've, well, we already talked about that a few episodes ago. So you don't have to divulge in that again but you know, we can talk about where would you go afterwards?
So, so I, when I was working at boot corral towards the end of it, I was going to school full-time. I was actually working overnight at supermarket chain which I actually left and then came back and then I became a grocery manager in that organization. But I just worked overnight man for two years and to be honest man, like those from a work perspective, those were some of the best years that I enjoyed. But it was really about the people man.
I like, there were about probably five or six guys that like I developed a good relationship with and it really was an opportunity for me to like grow and sharing my faith and stuff. And like, again, we didn't talk about my faith every night but like the guys knew what I was about.
And working overnight, you attract, that job kind of attracts like course thugs, convicts, you know, pie heads, like just kind of the people that I wouldn't call them outcasts but they're just different types of people that come to work on the night crew. And so man, I actually have relationships still with those guys. I, you know, I talk with them and you know, one of the main guys, you know, I've stayed in contact with him for 10 years.
And so like we talk all the time and you know, we don't always see each other all the time but it's one of those understandings like, Hey bro, like I'll see you when I see you and I'll talk to you when I talk to you kind of the type of deal. So it was really good man. Like overnight's kind of sucked and you know, the job itself actually sucked.
But like, I really enjoyed getting to know those people and working overnight was hard because like during the day, like you would want to sleep but you'd also need to get errands done or people would want to hang out with you. And so you kind of had to choose like, do I go to sleep or do I hang out with people or get errands done? But I was at that job. Yeah, I'm telling you, I know about that too. Having worked an overnight job too.
It's you're on the opposite schedule of a whole bunch of people, right? So it's like, if you want to maintain relationships, friendships, that sort of thing is like you got to make concessions on your sleep time. Yeah, it's pretty crazy. And how many hours did you work overnight? So my crew chief, who is the guy that I still keep in contact with, shout out to my boy Austin, but he was smart. Like he made it to where we would work instead of working five days, we would work four days.
So we would just work 10 hour shifts. And the way he stacked it was all the full-time guys. I think there was four of us. Actually there was five of us. One of the guys was just the weekend warrior, he just only worked weekends. But he had an A team and a B team. And so we would work eight days on, six days off. So the A team would work eight days on while the B team had six days off. And we would always all work together on Wednesdays.
So right at the end of A teams eight days on, that Wednesday would be their last day and then B team would come and they would take over for eight days. And then the other team would have six days off. So we kind of alternated. So it was actually a pretty good schedule. So you could actually go out of town, go on vacation, you could get your sleep schedule adjusted. Right. So towards the end there, it was eight days on, six days off. Yeah. Either way, it's nice. Four 10s.
Four 10s is typically nice if you're having to work a normal week and then yeah, eight on, six off is pretty nice. I think we should all go to four 10s. Oh yeah. So four productive in 10 hours a day worth of having that third day off is a true blessing, like I'm telling you. Because I almost work 10 hour days anyway. So it's like another two hours. Yeah. Another two hours ain't no big deal. And you know, I don't know. All the jobs I've ever had four 10s have just been a great schedule.
It's been fantastic. All right. So you were there. Where did you go next and what made you leave the grocery industry the first time? So I know this is going to sound really weird, but I was just like praying one day and the Lord was like, Hey, like it's time for you to just leave your job. And I was like, but I don't have anything lined up. And like me, I'm the type of person like if I'm going to leave a job, I'm going to have something lined up next. But I had no idea what was going to happen.
And this was in November of 2016. And so I was just kind of like, Oh, like, okay, but I just really knew. I knew that the Lord wanted me to leave that job. So I left that job. And then in the middle of November, that's when I got the call that my dad found out that his cancer came back. And so he was supposed to, or he was going to have a just a regular surgery to get the cancer and that was going to be around Christmas time.
So I actually worked three days and I got fired after the third day because it was on a trial basis for the news station, the TV station editing their, editing their commercials or whatever. And they liked my work, but I just wasn't fast enough for them. So like after the third day, I remember it was the week of Thanksgiving and they let me go.
Yeah, they were like, Yeah, okay, no, I understand that it takes, I mean, they put up footage really, really fast and they put things together really, really fast. Yeah, I definitely. And for me, I'm like, I'm very like a perfectionist when it comes to editing. So I have to like make sure everything is good. And that takes me a little bit longer. And so they were like, you do great work, but you're just taking too long. And I said, I, hey, I totally get it. Like, I understand no hard feelings.
So then I was just kind of like, holy crap, what next? And so then I didn't have a job. And I actually went to Fort Stockton because the person I was dating at the time, they like we're going to possibly get a job in Fort Stockton. I looked in Fort Stockton, there was no jobs in Fort Stockton. It's a little bitty poad on that's a small place. Yeah, that's a small place. Yeah, it's an oil field town is what it is. And so they didn't have any jobs.
And so like this was December and figuring it out. And I was like, man, like what's going to happen? So then my dad had his surgery and it was right before Christmas and they let him go home. And I think he got to spend Christmas at home. And then I was traveling to Houston, I think a couple of days after Christmas, it was like the 28th or so.
I remember getting a phone call from my dad and he was just, we were just talking and something happened, I think they gave him like morphine or something and he accidentally hung up on me. And I was like, and because he was saying, hey, like the nurses are going to have to you know, do something, something. And he's like, so he's like, I might have to go in a little bit. Well, he accidentally hung up the phone and I was just like, okay, I'll call him back tomorrow.
Well, famous last words, right? And that was the last time I talked. So coming back to Houston, which once you dandy, you were in Houston for a wedding, right? And then I was in for a wedding. So the wedding happened and I was on the way and this was New Year's Eve and my car was over heating, bro. So like what took an eight hour trip took me like 12 hours. Okay. It's cause my car kept over heating. I kept having to stop at like in the middle of the trip.
That's when my mom called me and was like, Hey, bro, like what she didn't call me, bro. She was like, Hey, she was like, Hey, like your dad is not in like, we had to rush him back to the hospital and he's like in the ICU and I'm making phone calls. And so you probably need to like get down here. So I'll let you know, but just be prepared.
And so I got, I finally got home and yeah, I, I remember stopping like on the middle of the loop and it was New Year's Eve because my car overheated and it was in the middle of the loop. And dude, I don't know if you believe, if you believe in angels or what people believe about an angel, but I'm friendly convinced that an angel came to stop, like stop and help me because this dude like pulled up and I didn't even see him dude. Like all of a sudden, like this truck just pulled in front of me.
I don't, he came out of nowhere. And I just remember this guy came out and like, I was like, what the heck dude? Like, where'd you come from? And he was like, Hey man, he was like, Hey, like it's dangerous. It's New Year's Eve. Like drunk drivers out here, like use your car overheating or something. And I'm like, yeah. He was like, he was like, let me take a look at it. And dude, I don't know what he did. He like, he maybe messed around with it for like two minutes.
And I remember asking him his name. He didn't tell me his name, but I just remember like kind of being like, not in a trance or a haze, but like, I just remember like when I asked him his name, like he just didn't answer me and like he got in and then he disappeared. Like the truck disappeared and my car didn't overheat at all. And I was able to make it home.
So I got home at 2am in the morning and about seven later that morning, my mom called me and this is New Year's Day and she said, Hey, like, the doctor's telling me like, you probably need to get on a plane and come down here. And so in my mind, I'm like, okay, like he's just not doing good. Like maybe he'll, if he's going to pass, he'll pass in a couple of days. So we scrambled. I got on the first flight out of Lubbock. It was at noon.
So I flew new flu from Lubbock to Charlotte and then from Charlotte to Augusta. And when I got to the airport in Augusta, my mom picked me up and she like, we were going to go get my luggage and my mom was like, do you want to sit down? And I was like, no, I'm good. And then I thought, I was like, Oh, like she don't ask me if I want to sit down. Like she probably needs to tell me something. And then as soon as like we sat down, I knew that she was going to tell me that.
Anyways, I know that that was a side quest story. So do the funeral, all that stuff. I stayed about a month, a little over a month in Georgia, then came back and I was jobless and I was looking for a job. Then finally I found a job with a moving company. And so then I started working. Man, working for a moving company. I bet you saw a lot of stuff. I bet you like not for the pun sake, but what I mean is like, I bet, I bet you've seen a lot with that job.
So I know we've talked about this a little bit, but just for the view was at home, kind of how does it work? There are crews, right? And so when you start off, where would you start off? Like working there or like from day to day? Like working there, kind of the structure hierarchy and what would you maybe see day to day as that, you know, initial go into that role? So first you start off as, I don't know what they call you. I think they call you a rookie, but you're just temporary.
Like you're kind of on a trial basis. And then you go from rookie to actual like mover. Okay. So mover means like you've got the job, you're not getting fired. Like, unless you do something bad. Then you go to crew leader and training. Now think about the acronym and they use the acronym. I'll let the viewers at home put the pieces together. Right? So that's what they called you.
So crew leader and training, you're the one, when you're a crew leader and training, you're the one that's orchestrating the move. You're in charge of like going through the house and like you're leading the whole thing. You're in charge of packing the truck and you're telling the movers like what to bring you and how to pack it.
And you're responsible for the, like the final bill because the way that this moving company worked is the people would call the office and the office would go through, okay, what items do you have in your house? And every item, depending on how large it was, got points. So if you had a small item, like a little nightstand, that's one point. If you have like a washer and dryer, that's seven points. If you got like big recliner sofas, that's 10 points.
And so they charge you a base fee per point, right? So it depends on how many points you have and how many boxes you have, right? So you get charged a certain rate for the boxes and a certain amount. And that's pretty much kind of like an estimate at that point though, like for what the office is giving. Yep. That's right. So it's an estimate. So when you actually go to the house on the day of the move and here's the thing like they would post the schedule the night before.
So you had no idea like if you were working that day or not, you have to go on Facebook. Yeah, it's rough. Luckily, I had a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule. So, and I made 40 hours a week just in those four days. That should tell you something and sometimes over time. So then the crew leader would go through the house on movie day and verify everything on the list.
Now, if there was something that they were like, no, we're going to take that off or hey, we need to add this, then the crew leader at the end of the move after they loaded everything, then they would adjust the price, all that good stuff. Now there's also an additional charge if you have stairs, right? So there's also a stair fee, all that great stuff, right?
Or if you were like a college kid that you didn't have that much stuff and you were like in the dorms, they would charge you like by the hour. So it was an hourly rate because you didn't have that much stuff. So it just depended, right? So you would go in and then after you verified all the stuff, then you would go in and then you would start packing the truck and the crew leader is the one that's responsible for packing the truck. So they have to, it's basically one big game of Tetris.
So they got to look at all the stuff and be like, okay, how am I going to fit this? You know, you always start with your base pieces and then you stack to the ceiling like boxes and all that stuff. And so that's how it would work. If it was a large house, they would sometimes bring two moving trucks or three, just depending the office kind of estimated like who needed how many trucks and whatnot.
And then you would have to make sure at the end of your shift, like you would have to make sure all the moving blankets were folded. You have to check all the inventory on the truck. Like it was just all this. Would you have to sweep out the truck too? Stuff like that. Yes, sweep out the truck. You'd have to not wash the truck, but wash the windows. You'd have to gas up the truck. You would have to make sure all the lights are working. Make sure that had. All checklists were to be.
Yeah. Make sure it was gassed up. Make sure there was enough diesel exhaust fluid, all that stuff, right? So I mean, some other questions I have. So how often, I imagine it's more often that people add things than say, you know what, actually, that's not going. Am I right on that? Yeah. That's, I mean, sometimes it would be 50-50, but yeah, it was more like, oh yeah, we forgot to put this. And they're like, oh, okay, but, and then sometimes they would do that like mid-move.
They were like, oh yeah, this is going to go. Oh, I got you. And it's like, don't forget, Aunt Janice is China cabinet that weighs five times. Or it would be like, oh yeah, oh yeah, it looks like y'all got room in the truck. So we're going to add this, right? Like I hate that. Now the other question that I had, weird things. The first thing that comes to mind is piano. Like how many pianos did you have to move? Like regular upright pianos or baby grand? Like baby grand, like large ones.
I think I moved probably three or four. And there's a whole process. Like it matters how you take the legs off. You have to, there is like a certain, and they would only put like the most, the more experienced people on moves like that. So like they wouldn't put a rookie crew leader on a baby grand piano. Like they would make sure they had an experienced person or someone that had done it. Yeah, I could imagine so.
I can imagine there's a, because you can't even tilt those things certain directions and things like, I mean it's. Yeah. Like you, you tilt it and there's a special like, they call it a piano dolly that you have to do and you have to wrap. It's a whole process. And how challenging is it getting it through most common door frames? I'm sure it's pretty nightmarish. The, the, the baby grand's not so much because once you take all the legs off, like you kind of flip it back, back up on one side.
And so it's pretty easy to go through normal door frames. The upright pianos, those ones were a little bit harder to move just because they're made of solid wood and they're like, dude, they are heavy, man, especially like the, what's it called, the cell playing pianos. Oh my goodness. I moved a couple of those. Oh, those were. What is this, 1800s? Hey, people have antique pieces, man. Yeah, they do. Yeah, they do. Yeah, that's pretty cool.
Some of the other things we've talked about with this job is, didn't you have to do some long distance moves a few times? Yeah. So people would move across states, they would move, you know, across Texas. Like it just depended it, like what your availability was. So like if you wanted to go out of town, there were some cool jobs. Like I think there was one to the Grand Canyon or near it. And then there was like one in Vegas where you went through Vegas.
And so guys would put like bids on the job, right? Like if it was a hot like job, the guys would put in bids for it. But I mean, they move all across the country. So if you wanted to do that, like that's, that's you. I went on a couple out of towners, but those were only like in Texas. Did you ever have a truck breakdown? Yes, I did have a truck breakdown one time, but it was in town and it was after the move.
So we had just got done unloading and it was just not like, like, I don't know, it was an accelerating or like, oh crap, what's going on with this? And so then our like guy from the office, he came out and he was like, okay, just leave it here, park it. We'll lock it up and then we got to take it to Penske or whatever. So very interesting. Anything else you want to add about that job? Yeah, I almost died on that job. Dang, what happened? I didn't hear this one.
I don't think I've told you the story. So we were doing a water delivery altitude. You might have. Did I tell you the story? Yes. Okay. Yeah, you did tell me the story. Yeah. So we picked up a pallet of water from Costco and the thing was the lift gate on the truck we had, we had like the worst truck, like the oldest truck, it was almost broken down and the lift gate was barely big enough to get the pallet on there.
And so like, so we got it on the truck and then when we got to altitude, like we were, the guy was pushing the pallet like to get it on the lift gate and he was like, okay, like, and I was down on the ground, like kind of directing him. And he was like, he was like, all right, let me know when, when I go to like, before I go too far. And I was like, stop, like stop. And he did not hear me say stop. And literally he went too far and the whole thing came crashing down on me, bro.
Like the whole thing, like it hit me in the head and like, dude, I thought I died. Like I thought, I thought something was broken. I do think I kind of got a concussion. My hip was pretty sore, but nothing was broken. No scrapes, like nothing. They give you the day off the next day or something? No, they didn't give me the day off. They told me to go to the office and chill out and then go back to work. That's what they told me to do. And looking back on it, I should have went to the doctor.
I should have sued. Yeah. It's like, that was your open window, buddy. Now, yeah, that's, that's pretty crazy. But a lot of times, you know, you just having a job and you're trying to make that money. So it's understandable. One last thing before we get off on the odd jobs, I think the scariest job or the scariest thing we did, we had to move an 800 pound gun safe downstairs to a basement. Oh boy. And like when you were like dollying the thing down the stairs, right? Like you can go slow, right?
You can go step by step. Like with that 100 or 800 pound gun safe, like gravity will catch it, you know what I mean? So it's like, yeah, there's no way you're going. You're going at whatever speed gravity wants to take that gun safe. Yep. So there were, I promise you, there were six guys that helped us get that gun safe down there and there was three on the bottom.
Thankfully, I was on the top, but bro, like all of a sudden the top are so scared that that thing was just going to go because it wasn't like it was the basement. And then if it rolled, it would just roll into like the open area. Dude, there was like a wall. Like there was a wall and then you'd have to turn it to go down. So it's kind of like kind of pivoting. And I was like, bro, like if this thing goes, it's crushing somebody. I promise you. And so I'd never been so scared of my life.
Yeah. And 800 pounds. Yeah. I would have killed somebody for sure. Yeah. I was like, I was praying the whole time. I was like, Lord Jesus. It's like the damage would be the least of your concerns. That's pretty nuts. All right. So from there, why'd you leave and where'd you go to? I left because I got a job in full-time ministry. So I became a kid's pastor. That was like, holy crap. I kind of just stumbled into it. Right. It was kind of one of those things. So were you going to the church?
Yeah. I was actually going to the church. Yeah. I was going to the church and I was going to the church and I had just, again, I was serving actually youth in prison ministry and I was like, yeah, I'm not going to do kid's ministry. But it came one of those things like, hey, can you just help us out on a Sunday? I was like, yeah, I can help you out. I'll do crowd control. And then it became one of those things of, hey, can you lead a small group? Okay. Then it became one of those things.
Hey, can you teach on Sunday mornings? Okay. Hey, the kid's pastor is leaving. Can you be our kid's pastor? And I was just like, I don't know what this all happened within a year and a half. So it was slowly over time. But yeah. And I was just like, yeah, because I'd been feeling like the call to full-time ministry and everything. And I was like, I don't know what this is going to be.
And then I just, when I started teaching on Sunday mornings, I was like, oh, I didn't know I was good at this because I used to have a big fear of public speaking. And I had done public speaking in the prisons and stuff. That was the first time I had ever got up and done public speaking regularly. And then I was like, hey, I'm kind of good at this. And so yeah, I didn't have no manual. Nobody told me anything about kid's ministry. I just had to make it up as I went. Go with what you knew.
Go with the old Ricky Cool special and try to figure it out, I guess. Now let me ask you this. This is something we haven't talked about the entire time. What was the pay like when you first got into this position here? I was making 28 grand a year. And this isn't 2017. But at that time, that was the most I'd ever made in my life. So for me, I was like, hey, this is actually pretty good.
And you got to think at that time, 2017, I know that doesn't sound like too long, but inflation has been pretty real to the point where it's even back then, you could survive a lot better on 28,000 for sure. For sure. So yeah, with kind of, I think I just got a health savings allowance. I had to go on Obamacare from the federal government because the church I worked for didn't provide insurance, but they just provided like a stipend, I think. So yeah, so I mean, it was decent pay. It wasn't bad.
It wasn't horrible. It wasn't bad. But then again, bro, like children's ministry is some of the lowest paid workers or like staff members. So like compared to the other people on staff, I think I was one of the lowest paid, but like I can't complain because I mean, it was decent. Yeah, especially at the time, especially like you were saying compared to some of the other jobs that you had prior to. And that was my first desk job. It was hard for me to be at a desk.
Yeah, you feel like you're lazy. I'm telling you, you feel like you're not doing nearly as much and it's like, nope, you're working at a different way. How long were you there? On staff a year and a half. How long did you go to the church total? From 2017 to middle of 2019, almost the end of 2019. So like a couple of years. Sorry. I should, sorry. Backtrack, the end of 2016 to the end of or almost the end of 2019. So about two and a half years, three years. Gotcha. Two and a half, three years.
Gotcha. All right. So the famous question of the rest of this here, what made you leave? Well, divorce, bro. I'm being honest. So that was during the time where I got, where I got divorced and my wife didn't want to be married anymore and all that good stuff. We're trying to work out and the pastors were just like, hey, like, you know, I think you kind of need to step down and you got a lot going on. You need to kind of figure it out and all that good stuff.
And so there were some other things that were going on, but I don't really want to get into that in the public. Like you, like, you know, but you know what I mean? Like it's nothing bad. Like nothing like, Hey, listen, I just had to give you the opportunity just in case you do want to hear it out. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it was nothing bad. It was just kind of like, man, that was just a lot. Like I'm not, I'm not going to sit here and like put people on blast.
Like I'm not, like I'm not going to drag anybody's name through the mud or anything like that. That's not, that's not what I want to. I'll, I'll say church politicking. That's the best way you can describe it. The hard, the hard part with that, and I will share this, I think the hardest part of that for me was when the divorce happened or not the divorce, but like it was announced that like we were probably going to get divorced.
It was funny how everyone in the church wanted to like all of a sudden talk to me and be my friend, but I knew it was just cause they wanted the information. And so like, but like people followed off the face of the earth, bro, like a couple months after and I remember I was going to another church. I started going to another church at the time because again, like it would have been awkward for me to stay there.
I remember the senior pastor called me up and he said, he said, well, he's like, you know, I hear you're going to another church and that's great. And he was like, well, since you're going to another church, you're part of another flock and I'm not your pastor anymore. That's, that's, that's what he said, man. To be honest, like that kind of hurt. Cause I'm like, it shouldn't matter if I go to another church or not.
Like if you genuinely care about me as a person, like you're going to, you're going to reach out and so yeah. And I mean, never, I wouldn't say everybody cause my boy Travis, shout out to my boy Travis. Like he came through for me and like, even though I wasn't going there, you know, I mean, he let me sleep on his couch for a week. So I can't, I can't say nobody, but like even after then, like he still reached out and I think there was maybe one or two people that maybe reached out from there.
But everybody else that said they were my friend or said they cared about me. They showed, they showed it, uh, showed how it actually was, I guess. But yeah, shout out to Travis. He's a real cool dude. Um, appreciate all the help over the years. He gave my boy. So funny enough, like while I was still on staff, um, at the church, I had, because my ex-wife, she had quit her job. So I had to come up with extra income.
So I was, I went back to the grocery store that I worked overnight at and I started working part time. Um, so I could put food on the table. And of course, while I was putting food on the table, other things were happening at home that weren't cool. Uh, and that's all I'll say about that. But so I was already kind of like, I was already working there. I don't mean to laugh. There's just, there's just so many things that went through my head that I couldn't say on this.
Yeah. So I was already working there part time. So when the, when the church was like, Hey, like you need to figure it out. Like I went to the grocery store and told them, Hey, like I can, you know, I can work more and they were like, Oh yeah, bro. Cause they love me. They were like, Oh yeah. Like we, you know, we want you. All that good stuff. Um, and we'll give you as many hours as possible. And then they finally gave me full time.
And then of course, um, the lady, cause she was, she was the lady that hired me and then she was the one that hired me back. Um, she was a store manager and she was like, Hey, have you thought about what you're going to do longterm? And at this point I was like, no, like I don't know what I'm going to do longterm because to me ministry was like out of the question, you know? Um, and so then she was like, Hey, like what if you go through our rotation program? Our store leadership program.
Now I do have a question that I'm going to stop you right here. Why was it out of the question for you at that point? Um, I think because again, while I was going, like I was in the middle of a divorce. I don't want to say messy divorce, but like I, I was kind of in a rough place. Um, I was like, man, because of my divorce and because of how I left, I, I just assumed like, you know what, like no one's going to want to hurt me because I've been divorced.
Basically, basically you thought, cause there is that stigma within the church and it, and it still is a big thing about, um, you know, holding some sort of position, a pastoral position and not being married or being divorced and being single now. I mean, there is a stigma about that.
I think it would have been one thing if like I, I was getting remar- I had already gotten remarried and you know, like if, and I was like, maybe one day down the line, it'll happen for me, but I have to get remarried and have kids and all that good stuff because. So it was just kind of like a not right now in this season, but like maybe later kind of feeling. So I worked there. I worked in literally every department, bro. Like I've every department except for the pharmacy.
Um, and so I worked there and then kept applying for management positions, kept applying, kept applying, kept applying, and then finally the week before Thanksgiving got moved to a store on the North side of the hood, worked there for six months. Um, good old part.
Yup. And then got transferred to the store right by my apartment and which is actually where I met my wife and then I worked there for a good few months and then I was the filling grocery manager for a month and then I got promoted to post Texas and then it was in January of 2022. Dude, I don't know what it was. Well, so let me backtrack like in the middle of me, um, in the middle of me working for the grocery store.
Um, I'd actually applied an interview to be like the kids pastor at the church I was going to and they were like, Hey, we really need someone that's more administrative. Like we love you, but you're just like, it's not that you're not what we're looking for, but we're just looking for a job description that like we know you wouldn't be interested in. I was like, okay, cool. Like I still went, still kept serving, like still had good relationship with those people.
And so in January, actually probably in November of 2021, something was just like, no, let me take that back in June of 2021. Um, sorry, I know the timeline is like changing, but I'm trying to remember back of 2021, man, like after kids camp, I went to kids camp. Something just stirred in me. Like I was like, man, like I really want to go back in the full time ministry, all that stuff was looking for jobs and hearing anything.
And then in January of 2022, I was like, man, like I'm going to make this happen. Like I'm going to find, even if I have to move out of love egg, like whether it's Dallas or whatever, I was like, man, like Lord, if you want me to do this, I'm going to do this. I just felt something in me to like stir up. Right. So I was applying. I had interviews and Waco and of course I was dating my wife at the time.
So we were like trying to figure out like, Oh man, we might have to do long distance if I move. Um, cause I had a couple of places interviewed me in the Dallas area. And I think the fact that like I had a girlfriend here, they were kind of like, Oh like, we know that's going to be hard. So they passed on me, which is, I'm thankful for, right? But then I remember just being like, okay, I just see this job for love it. Like it wasn't even kids pastor.
It was like an assistant to the kids pastor or kids director here in love it. I was just applied for it. And I was like, I'll apply for it, but I know what's going to, cause I had been rejected so many times that I was just like, yeah, I know what's going to come of this. Like I'll probably get one round of interviews, but I was like, after that, anything that happened. Um, so then I'm also trying to move up in my company too and trying to get out of post Texas.
And so I applied to be for the opening at a bigger store and I was interviewing with that. And then I finally got the call from this job and love it. And was like, Hey, like we want to interview you. So I went through the interview process, all that good stuff. So I was going through the interview process for both jobs at the same time. So it was kind of like a fork in the road. So I was kind of like, I'm either going to go this way or I'm going to go this way. I don't know. Yeah, absolutely.
Now a part that, you know, I'm going to go back to a little bit. You know, when he was talking about being at the grocery biz and bouncing around from a lot of stores, reason being is, man, it was kind of that pursuit, which you were talking about trying to move up as much as you could. And what happened, it was a good old boys network for the most part, right? And, you know, love Chris, but everything he was describing, it's like he was always kind of on the outside of looking in.
And so what I mean by that is it was like, there was this position and he would interview for it and he would always get a backfill. And I think that even became the expectation after a while. It was like, well, eventually I get there through backfills kind of thing, you know. Yeah. I was, I was never anybody's first choice to say. I mean, there was a lot of frustrating times like calling you like, Hey, how'd the interview go?
Like, I think it went well and then getting the calls like, nah, but you got this like backfill position. Like, I know there was a lot of frustration there for a bit. Yeah, there was man, because again, I didn't play golf with the right people. I didn't kiss up to the right people. And I'm just not that guy. Like, I'm just not. I'm like, man, he's just going to do his job and do it well. Like that's the kind of guy Chris is. Yep. I'm going to let my work speak for itself.
And so when I got the position in post, that was the first ever job or position where someone chose, I was their first choice where someone chose me. You know, this is a 45 minute drive one way to get, to get to where at the time, you know, like that's, that was his commute. It was 45 minutes one way. And here's the thing, bro.
I wasn't, because this guy, this store director had passed, like I had interviewed for this store a couple of times and this guy passed on me and it was always between me and someone else. And then the person he always picked never worked out. And so like, I was like, man, if they offer me post, I was like, I'm going to turn it down. That's what I literally told. I was like, if they offer me post, I'm turning it down.
But then when he said, we going to pay you $36,000 a year, I said, bet say less, say less. I know that doesn't sound like much now, but at that time. Oh yeah. No, for sure. Well, I mean, from where you were at. Yeah, absolutely. And then so I just bring, bring that up to say, you know, it was, it was a lot of back and forth.
And so once you got to that fork in the road, as you called it, you know, it was, I remember there was a lot of discussion, like you never really had a question of like, okay, if the church says yes, this is the direction I need to be going. But there was that question of like, you know, I'm interviewing for this other position.
It's what I wanted, like, you know, because it was like three months before that, I guess my question that I'm kind of round about getting to here is how much of that rejection from this, the supermarket made you like put that fire under you like that change. I know you say you went to kids camp and whatnot, but like, I know before that it was kind of brewing up, but I wasn't, it wasn't the, it wasn't the rejection from the supermarket.
It was just kind of like, man, like this isn't what I really want to do with my life. Like, yes, I can move up and be successful and all that good stuff. But I'm like, man, I just, I don't enjoy coming to work every day. Like this isn't what fulfills me. And so I was like, yeah, I know I can move up and I will eventually move up. But I was just like, nah, man, like I just felt like it was just time. Yeah, for sure. I totally understand that. But yeah.
And so going back to the fork in the road and what happened, obviously we could tell you got the job and you want to kind of talk about where you're at now. Oh, sorry. Well, I got the job and again, I didn't think they were going to pick me because I was like, yep. I was like, oh man. And what was crazy was, so I went through like that third round of interviews and I remember them being like, okay, we'll call you this week with a decision. And I was like, oh yeah.
Or I think they pretty much said like, hey, we really, we're going to offer you this job probably. And like they said it without saying it. And so I remember the next day I had to go to work was inventory, bro. And I was like waiting on them to call me and all this stuff. And we had just gotten a new store director and this guy was a pain in the butt to do. And I was like, bro, I can't deal with much more of this.
Like, I was like, if they're not going to, I was like, if they're not going to call like, and so money happened and they didn't call. I was like, oh my gosh. And then Tuesday I finally got the email and was like, hey, we'd like to offer you this position. This is how much it's going to pay. Like we'll match your pay. And I was like, yep, say less, boy. Like say, I was excited. Say less. And so I took the job and then I worked a few more weeks and then just always happens to me, bro.
I always started job like right before crunch time. I started, I still was working for the grocery store, but I would still go on Sunday mornings to just kind of see like what I was getting adjusted to the new job. But my first official Sunday was, or sorry, my first official week was the week before Easter. And bro, it was nuts. It was nuts. That Saturday service, we got 110 kids all in one little room. Oh, bro. And only four leaders. I was like, well, welcome to my first week.
It'd be like that, bro. So I got hired on to be the associate kids director. And basically my, my title was just to be over first through fifth grade and do the teaching and all that good stuff. And then my job title changed to elementary kids director, which was kind of the same thing. And so I kind of had more people under me and was responsible for doing more things.
And then this year, my, my boss, Rachel, she, she was like, Hey, like it's time for me to leave, which I mean, was a, like, it was, it was just man sad because like me and Rachel, we did ministry together for two years and that's your friend and, you know, that's your trusted like person. And so now I'm the kids pastor. So I'm, I run the whole ship. I run nursery through fifth grade. Congratulations on the promotion. Thanks man.
I mean, it's, it's great, but I mean, it's definitely a big ship to run. We've grown in the two years from 230 kids to all about 300, 320. And we're on track to start averaging 350. So that's a lot of growth, man. And so, I mean, it's good thing, but it's like, bro, oh my gosh, it's a big ship. It's good, but it's a lot to manage. But if anybody can, I know you can. But yeah, if there's anything that's good is you persevere through a lot, man.
You came through a lot to get to where your dreams are here. And I wouldn't say you're in your dream role per se, but you know, it sure beats the heck out of the supermarket industry, the grocery biz. I love going to work every day, man. To be honest, as much work it is and as much like responsibility as dude, I'm having a lot of fun. Easter, I mean, and we like, we haven't even shared with our listeners about Easter. Nope. But dude, Easter this year for me, that, that was a blast.
Like that was probably the most fun. Like the work leading up to Easter was stressful, but like doing Easter this year was a blast for me. Like I had so much fun doing it. It's definitely a highlight in my career. It's crazy. Like I've been doing kids ministry going on eight years now, like as staff and volunteer just being around it. Like, I'm like, dang, I've kind of got, you know, some years like under my belt. Yeah, man. You got some pips. What can I say? Yeah, man, but it's been fun.
It's been a ride, man. Like, you know, ministry, what's crazy is, you know, when we talked about Micah's episode, Micah always knew like what he wanted to be when he grew up. And for me, I didn't, I thought I knew, but I didn't really know. You know what I mean? I had ideas. Well, it kind of changed. It kind of changed over time. Yeah. Like I think, I think it does for a lot of people as well.
Um, I mean, we, we kind of didn't talk about that this episode, but you know, the very first thing was president of the United States. I mean, you were like that for at least a few years there at the beginning of our friendship. And then, um, it was really heavy on police officer there for a bit. There was a little stint where it's like Marine than police officer. Yeah. But police officer and being a Texas Ranger was like my dream. Um, and I, I mean, I thought it was my dream.
I just was like, Oh, this is cool. Like I've always loved cop stuff and everything like that. But like, I don't know, dude, like I'm thankful that I would make a horrible cop. So I'm thankful. Like once I started getting into, and then after like, I realized like, Hey, that's not my dream. And then there was this thing of like, well, what is like, what am I supposed to do? Like, I don't even know what I'm supposed to do. We're trying to figure it out. All this stuff.
And, uh, I knew, you know, from a young age, a lot of people told me like, Hey, like, you know, God's called you to be in full time ministry. We see God's hand on your life. I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. But what's crazy is like that guy Austin on night crew, like he was the one that told me he was like, Hey man, like you would make a really good youth pastor. Like you need, it's like, I don't know what you're doing here. And he's like, but you need to go be a pastor somewhere.
Cause like, he's like, you pastor us. Like he was kind of the one that gave me that push. Um, really. And, um, what's, what's, I'm going to try to like, I guess keep my composure, but like what's really cool is like, I'm, I'm getting to walk out a dream that was like my dad's, um, cause my dad wanted to be in ministry and my dad like wanted to be a pastor. Um, but for some reason I don't know what happened. I don't know if it was live or what it was.
Like he just, you know, he went to Bible school and did a lot. And like he, you know, he really wanted to be a pastor and, um, and so for like me to kind of do that and you know, I don't know. It's, I don't know how to describe it. Yeah. It's cool, man. It's, uh, it's not just walking out, living your dream. It's, uh, walking his out too. I'm the Cody Rhodes of my family. Just kidding. There you go, man. Just kidding. Yeah. I think, I think that really sums it up, man.
I think that's a, it's been a good episode. It's been a good episode of the donut box podcast. And what's funny is, and then I'll end with this, what's funny is Mike, I didn't know this, but he didn't know that when his best friend was going to go into ministry that he was going to get roped in kids ministry too. Yeah, I didn't know that. I didn't know that. Listen, I thought my, uh, my volunteering at kids ministry days were over, but hey, sometimes, sometimes there's a friend in need.
You gotta, gotta do what you gotta do. And I don't know, man, but like to me that like, I know for him, he's like, I've just helped my friend out. But that like meant a lot to me. Like that, I think that's what the most fun, there were elements of it that was fun, but I think that was what was most fun was getting to do what I love, like with my best friend there. Like I think that's what like, I really enjoyed about that. So yeah, I just had to throw that out.
I know we're going long, but I'll, I'll, I'll tell you, we, one of these episodes, we'll talk about the whole Easter experience. Um, cause it was, it was a good time. It was a really good time. But yeah, uh, trash can network at trash can network. Go find us on all the socials and everything. Come check us out on YouTube. We got some great stuff coming out, man. Dude, it's been a great episode by, I don't know. I love the free flowing ones.
I love our regular ones, but I really love the free flowing ones. Um, see, there were some things I didn't even know about, you know, your experience and things like that. That's why I always love, uh, these sort of formats. But Jim, man, I'm ready to take this donut box out to the trash if you want. It's doing all right, man. Well, I'm Michael and I'm crazy and this is the donut box podcast.