Member Spotlight: Eric Pierre

Current Work: I currently work as a Senior Financial International Auditor for Abbott Laboratories in Chicago. I have been with Abbott since July 2007 after working for McDermott International for two years in Houston, Texas. In my current role, I perform financial audits of affiliates that my company owns.

My audit department has seven audit rounds per year; therefore, I am scheduled to work in 7 different countries for 4-5 weeks at a time throughout our calendar year. I am only home in Chicago for about 2.5-3 weeks at a time. Since July 2007, I have been blessed by our Heavenly Father to visit the following nations with Abbott: China, Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico, India, United Arab Emirates and Taiwan.

In August 2006, while I was visiting a friend of mine in Chicago, I attended the Leadership Summit at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. While a speaker was talking, the voice of the Lord came upon me. He told me the following: “Eric, I want you to move to Chicago and serve with Willow Creek.” When I heard this voice, I was scared and did not know what to do.

Later that evening, a brother by the name of Ray walked me through Hebrews 11: 11-16 and showed me examples of people in the Bible who left their hometown and prospered. So, I prayed and fasted for the next 10 months regarding my move to Chicago and in May 2007, I started interviewing for jobs. My friend in Chicago introduced me to someone who got me the interview with Abbott Laboratories and Abbott was the answer to my prayers. Abbott increased my salary by 20% to help me cover the cost of living increase, a sign-on bonus and paid for ALL the costs of me moving my household goods from my apartment in Houston to my apartment in Chicago.

My time as an ambassador on the campus of Stephen F. Austin helped me prepare for this role. Why? Because part of traveling overseas is dealing with the reality of constant temptation. In MOG, we were taught how to act with integrity, including avoiding the appearance of evil (Romans 16: 17-20) and standing firm in my faith.

At times, I’ve had to tell my co-workers that it is because of my faith that I refuse to carouse with the attractive women that I have seen overseas. My experience helped me secure the confidence in sharing my faith with my co-workers on audits overseas. Also, I believe one of the pillars of our faith: Education in the Word (2 Tim 2:15) helped me. God didn’t give me this job without me showing myself ready to handle this responsibility. When I was with MOG, I evangelized and served on campus. When I lived in Houston, I served at Second Baptist Church in a Sunday school and I also was a volunteer in the 2006-2007 at Yellowstone Academy-an inner city school in the 3rd ward. I truly believe in my heart that if I had not done well in serving in my past, I would not be where I am at today.

My parting words to the Brotherhood is that what has helped me is Matthew 6:33. The scripture says that if we do God’s business first, He will take care of ours. As long as we always put God first and truly seek to advance His Kingdom, He will bless in ways that we cannot fathom. If you told me a year ago that I was going to see the world, I would have said no way, but look at God.

In Christ,
Ambassador Everpowerful
Acts 6:1-7 Line
Spring 2002
Abishai Chapter