Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 | Barbara Valerioti
Many churches today are watching their bottom line and wanting to be certain that they are good stewards of their resources. Certainly financial resources are easy to track and show on a balance sheet – but how about your people resources? Are we being good stewards of those resources as well? Is it proper or even desirable to consider our ‘people’ as resources that we are responsible for making an account for?
continue reading…Spiritual Gifts Testing & Ministry Placement – How Far Does the Process Need to Go?
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 | Jay McSwain
As you have completed 2009 and enter into 2010 it might be helpful if you ask yourself: • who are your mentors and • in what areas are they mentoring you Recently I was asked by a 28 year old church staff member if I would mentor him. He told me he was impressed with me moving my family to Florida so we could grow closer. He noticed how my wife and I interacted and wanted his marriage to be vibrant and healthy in the years to come.
continue reading…Who Will Be Your Mentors this New Year?
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009 | Blake Paul
Why is it that we hire people who are just like us? They say that opposites attract but that does not always seem to be the case when it comes to the work place or ministry. We tend to hire people who have the same personality traits that we have because they make us feel comfortable. In reality what we probably need the most is someone who is actually just the opposite of us.
Going one step further…
Many of our leaders in ministry today are forced to wear many hats. I have found that great communicators are probably not the most gifted administrators. Even though our leadership needs help, most don’t know how to go about hiring the right person or recruiting volunteers. There was a phrase I heard used in ministry several years ago that said, “You have to get the right people on the right bus.” True enough. I would like to suggest that everyone on the bus has their own individual seat. If only there was only a way to direct the “willing” to the “right seat.”
Using PLACE as a resource…
Whether you are involved in leadership training, volunteer training, ministry placement, or recruiting volunteers, you need to know about PLACE. PLACE uses the DISC assessment to assess participants personalities. This is a great starting place for hiring the right person. I can tell you that if you hire a very social, inspiring person and place them where they have little or no contact with people you have set them up for failure. This personality assessment is as important as any skill assessment. Many people that I have introduced to PLACE now say they will not make another hire until that prospect has been through the PLACE assessments. If you are struggling getting the right person in the right seat give PLACE a try. I believe it is just the ticket.
Thursday, September 10th, 2009 | John Rushing
What is typically on the minds of newcomers as they contemplate the decision to connect with a congregation of any size. Certainly, there are a number of variables that play into their decision: Bible preaching/teaching; mission/values/core spiritual beliefs; opportunities for fellowship/small groups; programming for their children and youth; and so on.
continue reading…Connecting Newcomers to Ministry
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009 | Keith Durham
“Daddy, are we almost there?” I could read into this question from the backseat the excitement my kids felt as we neared our family’s favorite vacation spot, South Padre Island in Texas. This trip had us fishing in the bay, a first for us! We thought our fishing excursion would take place on the calm, relaxing, wave-free side of the bay. Instead, the captain – wanting us to catch lots of fish, took us outside the bay to the deeper, much rougher waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As the boat bobbed up and down we found ourselves holding on for dear life! We caught fish alright, but all five of us ended up experiencing sea sickness in one fashion or another! We still share that life experience with others and laugh about it when we tell it. Life reminds me of that family trip: At times unexpected things cause us temporary discomfort. Other times, unexpected things cause us much happiness.
continue reading…Nothing Fishy About Sharing Your Life Experiences
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 | Ginger McSwain
Doing something for which you were not designed can breed all sorts of doubts, emptiness, and unfulfillment. I have felt feelings of frustration, failure, and loss of passion. This is not God’s plan or design for any of us. He created each of us for a purpose, “…to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12). The way I serve in God’s Kingdom won’t be the same as you serve, and according to Scripture that is biblical!
continue reading…Serving God and Not Enjoying It