Is anyone unaware of today’s high unemployment numbers?

I’ve lived through several recessions, and felt aftershocks of the Great Depression: folks never trusting banks, continuing to hoard a bit of string or wire.

We aren’t there, but times are changing fast.

On Aug. 3, I arrived at Asbury Methodist Church in Meadowbrook for Asbury Career Transition Ministry (ACT), now in its seventh year.

Almost 30 attendees gathered for networking, many examining a huge bulletin board holding more than 50 job flyers. Some are victims of downsizing or looming dismissals.

Today’s job market is so tight a person can send resumes numbering in triple digits before being noticed.

Job search methods have changed to being electronic. And today, it’s who you know, more than ever.

The ACT Ministry has volunteers who give up minimum of two nights monthly to this service. ACT brings proper tools, knowledge and contacts to get a person back on a career track.

They provide mentors for counseling and encouragement, interview coaching, resume building.

This ministry gives access to a “non-published job market listing.”

And they offer information for getting retraining assistance or career testing.

One job seeker attending ACT was Anna Stansell, with a bachelor of arts in communicative studies, and whose experience includes a decade of administrative and management roles.

Her passion, however, is creative writing. She has a long list of substantive credits in television, newspaper, film and radio.

“My goal in attending ACT is to improve networking skills and take advantage of Christian support. I’m open to all suggestions, thoughts and prayers,” Stansell said.

Stansell is writing a book and developing a web site.

“I like to use my skills to enlighten and entertain, give people a reason to laugh,” she said.

There’s a Bible text which resonates with her, Isaiah 43: 18, 19 NIV: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

Of this Stansell said, “The verse gives me hope that God has already identified, interviewed and found where He wants me to be.” Her e-mail address is stansellgroup@aol.com.

Today’s economy will produce many entrepreneurs and some will fulfill dreams, simply because they’ve been forced to make a change.

ACT is open to the public, in response to needs of those dealing with unexpected unemployment.

To learn more about the Asbury career transition program, call 271-9934 or visit Asburyonline.org/ACT

Gladys Hodge Sherrer can be reached by e–mail at

gsherrer@hotmail.com.