The Power of a Job to Create a Bright Future

When she was 18, Thayavathi ran away to marry her soulmate. Together they had a young daughter, with another on the way. But suddenly, her husband was shot and killed as he was working on the family farm in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Thayavathi’s husband was the latest victim of a devastating civil war that blazed throughout the country from 1983-2009, a war which killed and displaced tens of thousands.  

With nowhere else to go, Thayavathi and her daughters moved into a refugee camp. There, depressed and alone, Thayavathi attempted to end her life.  Fortunately, a pastor in Thayavathi’s community intervened and introduced her to Jesus.   

Recognizing her God-given skills 

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Thayavathi came to recognize that God had created her for more. She realized that God had given her skills she could use for business, and so she opened a small fabric shop where she sold cloth and tailored materials. With her profits, Thayavathi sent her daughters to school.  

As the years passed, Thayavathi wished to expand her fabric shop, yet she couldn’t afford to. Nevertheless, she kept her business in prayer, hoping she would one day receive the capital to further her cause.  

One day, she experienced God’s answer to her prayer.  

Investing in Thayavathi’s future 

It was through partnership that Thayavathi gained access to the resources she needed. In 2023, Thayavathi connected with Alliance Development Trust (ADT), and attended the PW business training offered by ADT. There, she learned that business is a holy calling, one that provides unique opportunities to share God’s truth and love in the marketplace.   

During these training sessions, Thayavathi identified the needs of her community and drew up a business plan. Impressed by her business know-how, ADT invested in Thayavathi, providing her with the capital she needed to expand her business.     

This is the power of a job. It’s the affirmation of one’s identity as an image-bearer of God, a chance to utilize their God-given skills. It’s the ability to create a bright future even in the darkest of situations. And when paired with a network of partners, each of them keen to form lasting relationships, our potential for lasting impact grows even more.    

Thayavathi and her daughters have a bright future, thanks to her newfound career as a businesswoman.