Meet Norm Curington, who serves Manna with prayerful leadership and discernment as a board member.

Norm has always been involved in business, but in 2008, he transitioned to working full time in missions. Now, with 45 years of combined experience in both the business and mission fields, he works to use his expertise to bring people together and bring people to Christ. He serves Manna as a valuable board member and has also been instrumental in the creation of The Manna Business Collective.

Hear from Norm in his own words…

For those who I’ve not known for a long time, my story is pretty “off the beaten path,” as the US expression goes. I did not start in full-time ministry, but rather in the business world. And because of mostly the Lord blessing me in many ways—such as timing, good people around me, and being in the “right space”—I had a terrific business season in my life until around 42, when I moved into more full time ministry.

As a side note, I did not succeed at business because I was the smartest or had the best ideas. It doesn’t take people long to figure that out about me. Neither of those were keys to my adventures.

I learned how to transform ideas into opportunities. Some ideas worked; some failed; some I’m still trying. But the pursuit is the real story. And that pursuit for me mostly centers around the people rather than the idea or the process. The people are the process.

I still believe if you get the right people together, and they are “sitting in the right chair,” the possibilities are endless. When their God purpose and true giftedness align; it’s beautiful.  This is a crossover truth that ministry and business have in common.

And by the way, the right people to me means people who are self-aware and in process—meaning they truly know their strengths, weaknesses, and what makes them tick from the inside. And they know their brokenness from the inside.  They are in constant pursuit of truly improving themselves from the inside out. They are consistently self-reflective in a healthy way. These traits are quite rare and hard to practice, as it turns out; and it’s a lifetime pursuit.

My life’s pursuit path started to diverge when I first went to Haiti in the early 2000s. And from that point until now, my view of the world and my purpose in the world changed significantly. So, as led by God, my life’s purpose now is missions and world impact. But ironically, my equipping has not dramatically changed. What did change is how I use my equipping—my gifts from God.

I am not foolish enough to think I will have a huge impact on my own; but I enjoy the purpose I’ve been given by God in working with others for a better Kingdom. I enjoy working with the team members around me. I am made better and given healthy challenges because of the giftedness of so many sharing their gifts with me and others.

I now see my role, and even Manna’s role, as partnering with local gifted Kingdom warriors to make a difference in terms of spiritual impact, but also in terms of community impact—such as education, job opportunities, and even business development.

Someone who seems to know me well once said, “Norm does not see you where you are; he sees you where you could be.” I thought a lot about that statement. First, it shocked me how true it was. And secondly, I see it as a double-edged sword. Seeing the hope, potential, and opportunity for everyone is great. Seeing them where they could be is great vision. But being present with someone where they are today—or being impatient with where they are today—is a great struggle of mine if I’m being honest. I can only say I’m in process and see the weakness.

But God is good, and He is constantly surrounding me with people that have the gift to be present with someone in this exact moment. I call them pastors—shepherds who can just be present in the moment.

But I also love those who see and work toward opportunities as well. I just know it takes both sides. And I’m afraid in today’s culture, the most lacking are those who are truly gifted at shepherding or pastoring. Our world does not want us to be present in this moment.  

So, between the “being” people and the “doing” people—both working for a better Kingdom—it’s a purpose worth fighting for.

Thank you Norm! Strong ministry requires wise stewardship—and we’re grateful for leaders who help guide this work with humility and faith.