Over the last two and a half months, I have been searching for a new ministry position. It has been quite a journey. If everything goes well, I think that it will end by the end of the month; but there is definitely not a certainty that will occur.
The reason that I believe that this will be the month is the following:
On May 8th, I have an on-site interview with a church in Madison, Wisconsin area. On May 10th, I am receiving a phone call from a church in the Evansville, Indiana area on who they chose; their search process is finishing up this week. Then, I have an onsite interview (final candidates) with a church in the greater Cleveland area.
In addition to those, I have set interviews this coming Thursday with another church in the greater Cleveland area, plus a church in Springfield, Illinois. In addition to those, I have had interviews with churches in Denver, Colorado and another central Indiana church that have not "eliminated" me.
If we have multiple options, the decision will be hard and much discernment will have to occur. Not only are the churches in different areas of the country, they are different denominations and different ministry positions. That may seem a little odd, but when I entered into the search; I wanted to cast the net far and deep and really not "exclude" or "close" doors. I thought that this would allow God to show me the path that we as a family need to take.
During the process, I have shared bits and pieces on facebook, but I have not shared exact towns, churches or denominations; more of a personal choice and trying to be a little precautions. Individuals have asked me if I have ranked the churches. In a sense, yes, but that ranking is not firm. They shift and change a little with more information that comes to the table.
Location plays a part, salary and benefits play a part, ministry role plays a part, church staff plays a part, the senior pastor plays a big part and the children, youth, adults that I have met play into the equation as well.
Right now, I am looking forward to the interviews on Thursday and I think the telling week of May 6th where I will have two on-site final interviews and hear from a church on their decision.
The thoughts and writings on this blog are the thoughts of Jeff and do not necessarily represent the views of Grace First Parish of Russell and/or Lutheran Campus Ministry of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 07, 2012
ESTJ
Recently, I retook my personality profile. As I am looking for a new ministry and working on some of my life plans, I thought that it would be a good idea. My results, I am an ESTJ. This is a slight change from 10 years ago when I was an ENTJ. The slight change as occurred (in my opinion) due to life circumstances and ministry positions that I have held over the last five years.
The quick summary: Fact-minded practical ORGANIZERS; assertive, analytical, systematic; push to get things done and working smoothly and efficiently. Having extraverted THINKING as their strongest mental process, they are at their best when they can take charge and set things in logical order.
Some things we value:
- results, doing, acting
- deciding quickly and logically
- task focused behavior
- categorizing aspects of life
That is a quick snapshot of an ESTJ and who I am. It is also interesting reading/researching the INFP which is the direct opposite of me. The direct opposite of me shows where my weaknessness lies.
The quick summary: Fact-minded practical ORGANIZERS; assertive, analytical, systematic; push to get things done and working smoothly and efficiently. Having extraverted THINKING as their strongest mental process, they are at their best when they can take charge and set things in logical order.
Some things we value:
- results, doing, acting
- deciding quickly and logically
- task focused behavior
- categorizing aspects of life
That is a quick snapshot of an ESTJ and who I am. It is also interesting reading/researching the INFP which is the direct opposite of me. The direct opposite of me shows where my weaknessness lies.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Indianapolis Indians & Children International
This morning, I went to downtown Indianapolis and went to Victory Field. I had a meeting with a Sponsorship Sales Executives team member. I think that the meeting went well. I am not sure what exactly will come of it but I went down there to share with them a little bit about Children International and if there will be an opportunity that we can partner with one another.
Thus, I may be able to get information into the hands of individuals attending the ball game about child-sponsorship. Later next week, we will be back in communication to see what might be on the table. It may be as simple as passing out brochures at the gate about CI. It may be setting up a booth and having individuals see the children that are available for sponsorship. We also may partner with them and the other organizations for their faith night in August.
We may still be here at that time, so I may be there or I will pass it off to someone else. But, it was good going in and getting a foot in the door and letting them know about CI.
For baseball fans, at Faith night, Andre Dawson will be speaking.
Thus, I may be able to get information into the hands of individuals attending the ball game about child-sponsorship. Later next week, we will be back in communication to see what might be on the table. It may be as simple as passing out brochures at the gate about CI. It may be setting up a booth and having individuals see the children that are available for sponsorship. We also may partner with them and the other organizations for their faith night in August.
We may still be here at that time, so I may be there or I will pass it off to someone else. But, it was good going in and getting a foot in the door and letting them know about CI.
For baseball fans, at Faith night, Andre Dawson will be speaking.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Am I Invisible ?
Since I resigned from Christ The Savior, I have attended seven different churches. I believe that we have found our "home church" till we find our next step in ministry. However, it was an interesting experience visiting churches and I have thought about continuing the experiment. One of the reasons that I have thought about continuing the experiment is because the church that may be our home church has a Saturday night service. So, we can attend there as a family and on Sunday's, I can explore and do "research".
There was one Sunday in particular that was interesting. I went to three services at three different locations. I went to an 8:30, 10 and a 11:30 service. I am not going to name or oust the 10am service but when i went there, I must have been invisible. Now, let me tell you, I think that they knew i was there though. It was a smaller church (under 100), so it was not like I was hiding in the crowd.
No one greeted me at the door.
I stood in the gathering space wondering around, no one approached.
Ah, the coffee bar with folks 'working'. I went over there and struggle to get coffee, trying to make it known that I needed help. Not a word. Hmmmm, I will go into the "worship space".
No one there to say hi to me.
I sat down (10 minutes before service) and not a soul.
Ahhh greeting time, here it goes. Wow, did they greet and it was a long greeting time. However, I was not the one being greeted. If you are one of them, it is a loving place. I am just not sure how to become one of them.
Service was great, worship was excellent, sermon was relevant; it was just cold.
Lights back on, I exit and not a word. I don't even recall a smile or a head nod.
Nope, this is not the "home church".
Friday, March 23, 2012
What Is Sponsorship ?
Children International's mission is to help children living in dire poverty. Through the
| generosity of contributors, we provide needy children with a variety of programs and services to meet their basic needs, enhance their self-esteem and raise their physical and educational levels in a meaningful, lasting way. Since 1936, Children International has been providing assistance to children and families struggling in terrible poverty. Today, through the Children International® Sponsorship Program, we help children in 11 countries – Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, the Philippines, the United States and Zambia. With your support, we can continue to help poor children grow up healthy and educated. Here is a 2 1/2 minute video on "What Is Sponsorship" |
Please go to my personal page, take a look at the children and sponsor one of them. You can choose the gender, age and country and begin to build that relationship with them TODAY. And today is my 40th birthday, that would be a really cool 40th birthday present for me; if you would sponsor a child.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Returning ......
I believe that I am returning to this blog. I have been gone for awhile but it is time to get back to writing here. I am not sure how much time that I will have to devote to it, but I am going to give it a try. Alot has happened since I departed.
I have resigned from my ministry position at Christ The Savior. I am currently working three part-time "secular" jobs. I am working night shift at Marsh (a grocery store) as a night stocker. I am working at Metro Plastic as a machine operator. Then recently, I have partnered with Children International. They do child sponsorship's in 11 countries and I try to match kids and donors. If you would be willing to partner with me/them; let me know. Your gift of $25 a month will do amazing things.
I am also interviewing for various ministry positions across the country. I am not sure where we will land. Also, I am now able to visit numerous churches. I visited 3 last Sunday. It is definitely interesting to see how everyone "does church".
So, in the up-coming weeks, I will share about Child International, my job search, church experiences and life in this transition time.
Jeff
I have resigned from my ministry position at Christ The Savior. I am currently working three part-time "secular" jobs. I am working night shift at Marsh (a grocery store) as a night stocker. I am working at Metro Plastic as a machine operator. Then recently, I have partnered with Children International. They do child sponsorship's in 11 countries and I try to match kids and donors. If you would be willing to partner with me/them; let me know. Your gift of $25 a month will do amazing things.
I am also interviewing for various ministry positions across the country. I am not sure where we will land. Also, I am now able to visit numerous churches. I visited 3 last Sunday. It is definitely interesting to see how everyone "does church".
So, in the up-coming weeks, I will share about Child International, my job search, church experiences and life in this transition time.
Jeff
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Ministry Blog
I have not been active here at all even though that I have had intentions to be. I am going to try to focus on blogging for a month but do it with a purpose - ministry. So, I decided to create a new blog with that purpose. With it being new and intentional on what I will be writing about, maybe I can do it. We will see. If you stop by here and see this, maybe you wanna check out what is happening there:
Thoughts On Ministry
Thoughts On Ministry
Monday, July 25, 2011
Free Ice Water --- NOW !!!
A few days ago, I was on a mission trip with our pre-teens. We joined four other churches and overall it was a grerat experience. Here is a picture of our team:
The group is not what I first expected. I thought that we would be taking 15-20 students from our 5-6 grade ministry. But, that did not happen. However, what did occur was that we took three families and having three families do a trip together was awesome.
Now, onto the free water.
On Wednesday, we decided to go and get some ice cream at the local place to get the best ice cream intown. When we went in to the store, we were the only ones there. We were ordering for us and we were also treating the 4 staff members back at the church, so we had 11 ice cream orders to fill. There was one teenage worker in the store and she did fantastic putting all 11 orders together. We decided to make life easy on her to put it all on one ticket. Honestly, I think it was the obvious church.
While we were in there, another church group came in. They all had their money out individually and was very apprehensive while we were in there. As soon as our oder was complete, we exited the store and went back to the church.
Thirty minutes later, I hear an adult minister complain about the teenager who was working the same store. He was upset because he wanted a free water and she would not give it to him (store policy). Now, I will also remind you that he was the one leading the group that was paying individually, he did not order a thing and they sold water bottles for .69 cents (I do believe). It was hot out and he could not believe they would not give out free water and he let her know about it.
As I listened to the story from a distance, my heart broke. A minister lamblasted a teenager for following store policy. I could not let it go. I went to worship time with my group and after the worship experience, I excused myself.
I went down to the ice cream store where she was still working and the store was still hopping. I waited in line and when it was my turn, I said to her:
Thank-you for serving us so graciously earlier. I heard about what happended after we left with the water, is it true. She confirmed. I said, I want to apologize on their behalf and for the trouble that they gave you, I want to give you a tip.
She was speechless and grateful.
I am amazed at times how rude we can be to others and it breaks my heart that it is fellow ministers who are the cause of pain at times; to me it is unexcuseable.
I did not spend time with her to hear her story because of how busy she was. I am not sure if she is a followe of Christ or not. But, I cannot imagine what her thoughts may be when she got a rude awakening from a minister.
Think before you speak and act ---- anytime. Not to mention when you are on a mission trip.
The group is not what I first expected. I thought that we would be taking 15-20 students from our 5-6 grade ministry. But, that did not happen. However, what did occur was that we took three families and having three families do a trip together was awesome.
Now, onto the free water.
On Wednesday, we decided to go and get some ice cream at the local place to get the best ice cream intown. When we went in to the store, we were the only ones there. We were ordering for us and we were also treating the 4 staff members back at the church, so we had 11 ice cream orders to fill. There was one teenage worker in the store and she did fantastic putting all 11 orders together. We decided to make life easy on her to put it all on one ticket. Honestly, I think it was the obvious church.
While we were in there, another church group came in. They all had their money out individually and was very apprehensive while we were in there. As soon as our oder was complete, we exited the store and went back to the church.
Thirty minutes later, I hear an adult minister complain about the teenager who was working the same store. He was upset because he wanted a free water and she would not give it to him (store policy). Now, I will also remind you that he was the one leading the group that was paying individually, he did not order a thing and they sold water bottles for .69 cents (I do believe). It was hot out and he could not believe they would not give out free water and he let her know about it.
As I listened to the story from a distance, my heart broke. A minister lamblasted a teenager for following store policy. I could not let it go. I went to worship time with my group and after the worship experience, I excused myself.
I went down to the ice cream store where she was still working and the store was still hopping. I waited in line and when it was my turn, I said to her:
Thank-you for serving us so graciously earlier. I heard about what happended after we left with the water, is it true. She confirmed. I said, I want to apologize on their behalf and for the trouble that they gave you, I want to give you a tip.
She was speechless and grateful.
I am amazed at times how rude we can be to others and it breaks my heart that it is fellow ministers who are the cause of pain at times; to me it is unexcuseable.
I did not spend time with her to hear her story because of how busy she was. I am not sure if she is a followe of Christ or not. But, I cannot imagine what her thoughts may be when she got a rude awakening from a minister.
Think before you speak and act ---- anytime. Not to mention when you are on a mission trip.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Milwaukee
Here is our "fun" group picture on the church steps of Unity Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 18 youth and 4 adults converged on the city to team up with YouthWorks and 2 more churches.
More pictures and stories to come.
More pictures and stories to come.
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