About Us SOS: Bekah Padilla
Stories of Service: Bekah PadillaFeaturing Pastor Tania’s discussion with Bekah Padilla
Pastor Tania stated, “Not everyone likes to serve in the church in the area of their professional career, but you have assisted Westwood through a couple architectural projects, lending your specific skills. How have you found it satisfying to do ‘work’ for the church?”
Bekah Padilla responded, “I’ve found it very satisfying to participate in architectural projects at Westwood. Several years ago, over a series of conversations with an architect friend who had recently decided to go overseas to serve as a missionary; I was tangibly introduced to a different way of thinking about my professional career. I realized that ultimately, always, I work for God. He is my boss, and I have come to an understanding that I’m called to use my skills to support and nurture the community I live in. That shift of understanding of who I am professionally had a profound impact on how I see my role in the world and how I choose to use my skills and abilities as an architect. It even caused me to make a dramatic change in my professional role 5 years ago. Since that time, many professional and personal puzzle pieces have fallen into place for me, and the lines between the various areas of my life (church and profession, among them) have become very faint. Now the most relevant question for me to answer when I’m asked whether I want to participate in an architectural project has become, ‘Does this work align with how God calls me to use my skills?’”
Pastor Tania asked, “Why is serving important to you?”
Bekah Padilla replied, “I can easily get overwhelmed by the need in the world - and do. My way of dealing with that is to contribute what I am able, and to work hard to completely turn the rest over to God, knowing He has called others to contribute in many other ways I cannot. Actions speak volumes, and as a parent I am well aware that my son Cody is learning what I value by what he sees me choosing to spend my time doing. Cody and I routinely pray that we have the courage to fully use the gifts, talents and blessings God has given us, and that we encourage others to do the same.”
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