Ever think about being a fireman when you grew tip? How about an engineer? nurse? teacher? Occupational choices are endless today. When I was growing up, however, choices were limited, especially for a young man from Dorothy, a small coal-mining patch near Latrobe, Pa.

Dorothy residents were blue-collar workers. Everyone was poor. My father worked in a coal mine for a good portion of his life. Later he worked in a small die-casting plant until his death in 1966. My mom stayed at home, hut worked cleaning houses when she could and later as a waitress. But my brother, two sisters, and I were never left alone. Mom worked her schedule so that she wouldn’t leave the house until Dad came home.

I knew about Jesus at an early age. We were Roman Catholics and attended mass every Sunday. Our folks required us to attend catechism classes after mass and during the summer for several weeks. We had no car, but we lived within walking distance of the St. Vincent Church. And we had to be there regardless of the weather. My parents were concerned about our spiritual welfare. The Lord was leading me from an early age, even though I didn’t know it.

As I grew, I dreamed about something other than factory work. In grade school, I wanted to he a doctor. In high school, I had visions of becoming an engineer. There were grand reports of lots of money in engineering. Growing up poor, I thought it would be nice to have some of it. I had the qualifications to be an engineer. I was a good student, on the honor roll, and a member of the National Honor Society. I liked the challenge math and science gave me. Engineering seemed like the natural choice for my life’s work. But God had another plan. After high-school graduation in 1957, I set out to pursue an engineering career by enrolling at St. Vincent College. Since I could walk to school, I thought living at home would be great, but it wasn’t. Evenings found me “hanging out” with my old high-school friends. During the day between classes, I always found a card game in the “day-hop lounge. I was too busy to study. As a result, this young engineering student did so poorly that the college placed me on probation after the first semester.

At the end of the first year, my advisor recommended that I switch my course of study to something not quite as demanding as engineering. So, I switched to business administration at the beginning of my second year. By the end of the first semester in that second year, my grades were even worse. I was asked to leave. I had had the opportunity to become the first college graduate in my family and I failed. My college days were over. At least for the time.

The Lord allowed me to exercise my free will in showing me that this wasn’t my life course. So at the end of three semesters, I found myself working in a variety of jobs. All of which prepared me for my life’s work—the work God had laid out for me. The Lord was telling me that the disciplined life of an engineer was not for me. He wanted me to take another road, something more “creative.” This isn’t to say engineering isn’t creative. However, I believe God wanted me to be creative in another sense. He was and is right always.

My first job was in the die-casting plant where my father worked. It showed me quickly that I wasn’t cut out for factory work. My next job was in a men’s and boys’ clothing store. After that, I sold stereos and phonograph records. During my selling days, I came to know many of the Latrobe businessmen. One of them, the manager of the local radio station, offered me a job selling radio advertising. I wasn’t too keen on selling intangibles, but I thought I’d give it a try. And I’m glad I did.

After being at the station for a few weeks, one of the on-air personalities didn’t show tip for his shift, and I was drafted to fill in. I didn’t know anything about being on the radio. Fortunately, the people I worked with were a great help. Thanks to their patience, it wasn’t long before I was an “on-air” regular. I had lily own show. I called myself “Mr. Tempo.” I loved it. During that time, I had the opportunity to interview Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mt. Everest. I interviewed the late country singer Patsy Cline, and many of’ golf’s greatest players, including Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead. Tucked in with all of this, I was working with words writing news stories and advertising copy, using and training my voice, and getting to know the radio business. In 1962 the ownership of the Latrobe station changed and I was forced to find a job working at a radio station in Indiana, Pa. I had worked there for about a year when the new owners of the Latrobe station asked me to come back, and at a bigger salary.

After returning to Latrobe, I learned that St. Vincent College had started an evening continuing-education program. I wanted to go back to school, so I enrolled in a psychology class. This time I dropped my old buddies and skipped the card playing. What a difference it made. I got an “A.” About that time, I was looking through my sister’s high-school yearbook where I noticed a very attractive business-education teacher. Nancy Elder. One of Nancy’s students worked at the radio station after school. I asked her if she thought Miss Elder would go out with me. So she asked Miss Elder if he would. Nancy replied, if John Vincze wants to go out with me, he’ll have to ask me himself” I did. It was love at first sight. The only problem was that I was a Catholic and she was a Reformed Presbyterian. That sent up some red flags in our families. Fortunately, the Lord led us through that time by pouring out His love on both families. God’s love overcomes all situations. Nancy has been a great influence in my life through her example. After we started dating, she invited me to worship with her at the New Alexandria RP Church. I can’t point to any particular time when I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior. But I do know that when I began worshiping in New Alexandria, I heard and understood the gospel for the first time, thanks to the preaching of Dr. Kermit Edgar. I joined the church and was baptized. Nancy and I were married on June 18, 1965—eighteen months after our first date.

About a year after we were married, my job at the radio station came to an end when the station filed for bankruptcy. I had heard about a job for an advertising editor at West Penn Power Company, our local electric utility. I didn’t know what an advertising editor was, but I thought I could find out. I applied for the job, and after two interviews and a lot of tests, I was an advertising editor. My experience with writing radio news and advertising copy was a real blessing. As I look back, I know that the Lord prepared me for and led me to a wonderful career. I looked forward to going to work every day. And with my radio training, the company used my voice. For over 20 years, I was “the voice of West Penn Power” on the company’s radio and television commercials, as well as for internal information and training programs.

In 1986 I became the supervisor of advertising, and then supervisor of public relations in 1993. In the latter position, was responsible for responding to newspaper, radio, and television reporters. I could never have imagined such a wonderful experience. I had fun and got paid for it. When I was in high school—and even as I started college—I disliked English. The whole idea of writing compositions and working with words was repulsive. But for almost my whole working life I was a “wordsmith.” I wrote newspaper ads, radio and television scripts, bill enclosures, publications, direct mail, training programs, and news releases. The Lord blessed me with 33 years at West Penn Power (now Allegheny Power). I retired early in 1999. While working I continued going to school. I graduated in 1973 with a degree in financial administration and a minor in journalism. With the Lord’s leading, I did become the first and only member of my family to graduate from college. What wonderful blessings God has bestowed on me. And at some time in there, I was elected a ruling elder in the New Alexandria RPC, served as the clerk of session, taught an adult Sabbath-school class, and shared precentor responsibilities. The Lord has blessed Nancy and me with three wonderful sons: Tim, David, and Jonathan. All three are musicians, and each special in his own way. As I look back on the events that led me to where I am, I see the Lord’s leading. I don’t know if He has completed His plan in my life, hut I know that lie still is leading me and I continue to pray for His will to be done in my life. We can’t all be firemen, engineers, nurses, or teachers, but we can be what the Lord wants us to he. He led me. Let Him lead you.