It’s never easy to give up your plans and let God have control, but during her time at Pensacola Christian College, Miya Nakamura (Professional Writing ’22) learned that God’s plan is always better. Although she originally wanted to be an elementary teacher, God allowed Miya to reach children in a career especially suited to her skills: editing Christian resources produced by Positive Action for Christ. Her work allows children all over the world to hear the gospel through a quality Christian curriculum.
Surrendering Her Plan
After graduating from high school, Miya thought she knew exactly how the next five years would go. She had created a detailed plan for college and a future career. The first step? Applying to study elementary education at PCC—no backup plan, no option B.
As the semester approached, though, God began working in Miya’s heart. She felt led to change her major but had never even considered what else she might study. “I remember my aunt reading every major that PCC offered to me,” recalled Miya. “They all sounded so out of my comfort zone and my abilities. When she read the classes for professional writing, I was immediately drawn to the copy editing classes.” The more Miya heard about the major, the more she was sure that she needed to switch. She emailed her admissions counselor and changed her major to professional writing just three weeks before moving to Florida!
“It’s abundantly evident that God’s plan was greater than my five-year-plan ever was.”
The professional writing concentration degree reinforces excellent writing skills by developing and building on a strong academic foundation in grammar. Classes focus on a variety of areas used in professional writing careers including journalism, copywriting, creative writing, and poetry. As the years progressed, Miya discovered her aptitude for editing through classes like Copy Editing (EN 302), where students learn to edit various pieces, and Advanced English Grammar and Composition (EN 360), which provides a detailed study of traditional grammar.
During her senior year, Miya had the opportunity to work at Abeka Publishing, an affiliate of PCC. “I loved being part of the editorial staff,” Miya shared. “Knowing that the projects we worked on were going to be used by so many students all over the globe was so rewarding.” Miya’s job as an editor allowed her to influence children in a different way than she planned.
Though writing wasn’t her original choice of study, Miya was greatly encouraged by PCC English faculty. One teacher who stood out was Dr. Sarah Oberto, who bought her entire class staplers so students wouldn’t lose points for un-stapled projects. Miya still has that stapler on her desk to this day! She was also thrilled to learn under Mr. Mark Wainwright, previous editor for Christian Books Melanesia, the largest Christian publisher in Papua New Guinea. “My classmates and I joked that he had more than 24 hours in his day,” said Miya. “He was so busy with many ongoing projects, yet he always made classes fun while teaching us so much about writing and editing.”
Embracing God’s Plan
Miya thought she knew where life would take her. In her time at PCC, however, it became clear that God was the one directing her path. He stretched her in ways that took her out of her comfort zone and allowed her to grow through the changes. “Now,” said Miya, “it’s abundantly evident that God’s plan was greater than my five-year-plan ever was.”
During Miya’s last semester at PCC, the chief editor at Positive Action for Christ noticed her qualifications and reached out to her on LinkedIn. She applied, interviewed with the publishing company, and was hired for an editorial position soon after. Miya’s experience at Abeka was an important stepping stone in achieving her new role. Similarly to Abeka, Positive Action for Christ publishes Christian curriculum materials for children. Their mission is to be God-focused, teacher-driven, and biblically centered. “I love the opportunity to use editing to glorify God and spread the gospel,” Miya shared.
Miya Nakamura has now been working with Positive Action for Christ for over two years. She helps to edit the copy of each book that gets published, manages social media for the company, and supports other members of the editorial team as they plan ahead and make revisions. Occasionally, she even gets to travel and represent the ministry at conventions and conferences. The joy Miya finds in her career has encouraged her to become more qualified in her field. She will receive a certificate in copyediting in December 2024.
“I love the opportunity to use editing to glorify God and spread the gospel.”
Now that she has worked as a full-time editor, Miya Nakamura is thankful for the experiences she gained at PCC. Her spiritual, social, and academic growth have allowed her to play a key role in the ministry as she fully embraces God’s plan for her life. “I think PCC prepared me to be an effective editor and not only trained me to exceed professionally but also prepared me to be a godly influence in every situation that I find myself,” Miya reflected.
Read more about how God is directing and working through PCC faculty and alumni.