Charolette Tallent
Charolette Tallent has worked for the past two years in the role of Field Operations Stateside Manager for Free Will Baptist International Missions. As the Director of Field Operations, during these two years Charolette and I have worked together on a daily basis. Our personal friendship dates back to our time together in college in the 1970s. So, based on over 30 years (!) of friendship and working on a daily basis on the same team for these past two years, I want to give a more public word of thanks for Charolette as a friend, a loyal associate, a hard worker, a person of incredible integrity, a lifelong learner, and for her sterling attitude of humility.
Charolette helped create and mold the position she has held for the last two years. She has designed new application processes for prospective candidates, outlined the steps for them, and walked through these processes with them. She has created and modified forms, files, and internal helps for everyone in Field Ops. At the same time, she has been the key contact person for our personnel, regional directors, and others around the world, maintaining and managing vital personnel information. She has been an absolutely vital assistant to me in my responsibilities as director. These are only a few of the many hats Charolette has worn in this role.
The reason that Charolette is leaving Free Will Baptist International Missions has nothing to do with her performance! Because of budgetary constraints, her position was eliminated, along with several other positions in our organization. It was with much sadness that the leadership of the Mission had to make this decision. Even in this painful process, and after receiving this news, Charolette volunteered to continue to work with us to help us make the changes and adjustments within the mission to cover her responsibilities! Charolette’s positive attitude and spirit of willingness to work with us to help us understand the minute details of a position she has helped create testify to her high level of personal integrity.
I personally have never known anyone who has worked any harder after receiving notice that her position has been eliminated. For that reason, I say you are a model for us to follow Charolette, and an example that I will not forget. When I am faced with similar challenges, I’m sure I will think about how you responded with such humility and integrity.
One of the greatest concerns (read: fear) in the present economy is (a) losing your job and (b) finding other adequate employment to pay the bills! So, aside from losing Charolette at FWBIM, a major concern was her unemployment. I am so very thankful that Charolette has landed a job back at Vanderbilt, close to where she worked before she came back to FWBIM! She starts to work there the day after she leaves FWBIM! Actually, she left a position there to come back to work at FWBIM at our request. The fact that her former supervisors quickly offered her a job (a slightly higher position than she had when she left!) as soon as they learned she was available is another testimony to the caliber of person Charolette is. The reputation and impact she had there is obvious. Well, she has the same reputation at FWBIM! The fact that I’m writing this tribute to her points to the impact she’s had in my life.
Thanks for your hard work Charolette, for your many contributions, for your personal integrity, and for your friendship. May God continue to use you to impact others, and may He bless you with His peace as you work for Him, regardless of the address of the job.
One Perspective Among Many 