Waxahachie, TX

June 27, 2018 | Mikayla Heldt

Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) alumnus Bobby Pendino has learned to trust God in helping him find his purpose as he has navigated through many different jobs, including his current position at Microsoft .

At Microsoft, Pendino works as a Support Escalation Engineer . He often meets with a large number of reputable companies and people on a daily basis. As a software engineer, he interacts with customers who are having issues with different programs and systems. It’s Pendino’s job to find out the logical explanation to where the problem lies, and to walk his customers through the problem so they can prevent it in the future.

“I learn something new every day…I never know what I’m walking into,” he says.

Pendino graduated from SAGU in 1999 with a degree in Church and Business Administration. While at school, he became frustrated and felt like he was the only one that didn’t know God’s plan for his life.

“I just didn’t know where my calling exactly was. I wanted to work with youth, but I also had an interest in computers and such,” he says.

There were times when Pendino almost dropped out to attend a different university, but he said God kept him at SAGU for a reason. He began working with the Information Technology (IT) department as a lab technician during his time as a student. At one point he went to a youth convention and met up with an old pastor friend, who shared some advice with Pendino about his frustration and confusion.

“He told me, ‘just be in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing, and God’s going to take care of the rest.’”

Pendino worked in IT full time following his graduation from SAGU, and then started a tech position at Joyce Meyers Ministries . He said that this was one of the more “pivotal points” in his career path, because at the same time he was working in the youth ministry of a small, Spanish congregation in St. Charles, Missouri. This helped him understand that God was beginning to put the pieces of his life together.

“God started just to put things in my way and to lead me in the way that I needed to go based on my own desires and passions, and knowing that I’m keeping Him first in my life,” he says.

Pendino also moved down to San Antonio to work a few different tech jobs while working for Royal Rangers and the youth group at a local church. Pendino later ended up at Microsoft, where he works a very demanding, fast-paced job requiring 100% effort, every day. But Pendino says that it’s the best company he’s worked for.

“It’s very stressful and very competitive, but at the same time extremely rewarding,” he says.

Pendino credits SAGU with helping him in the workplace, especially at Microsoft, where he learns how to work with people and everything else that his high-stress level job entails.

“I think Southwestern helped mold some of that with a sense of responsibility, and a sense of always doing everything with excellence and integrity.”

His entire career has been a journey, but through it, he has learned to have faith and trust that God will take care of Him and provide what he needs.

He often references Psalms 119:105 – “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This verse was and continues to be a solid foundation during his times of struggle.

“I may only see the next step and take that step in confidence that he will never lead me wrong and I can always trust Him.”

Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu