I love the work I get to do with both Slingshot and Leadership Pathway. I’ve been able to engage hundreds of churches and about 3,000 leaders trying to take their next (or sometimes first) step in ministry.
The most asked question I get is “how?”
”How do I get a role on a local church staff?”
So, I’ve typed the answer in an email hundreds of times and now believe I’m ready to blog it out. Honestly, my answer has not changed much in several years.
First, a word to those just starting. If you are just beginning (meaning you’ve volunteered, had some internships, but have not yet completed two years of full-time employment at a local church with one boss who can vouch for you…then you need to GO HERE and think about residency. Church leaders are looking for those who have at least two subsequent years of employment with one boss.
If you are still reading, and you are looking for your next step on a local church staff may I recommend:
// FIRST, ONBOARD WITH SLINGSHOT GROUP. Actually, you should onboard with every search group that is in business searching. There are many. Slingshot is my favorite, it’s who I help, and I have many friends there. Just hit the site and follow the buttons. They’ll be honest with you. Take the coaching. They’ve worked this process with folks like you thousands of times.
// SECONDLY, MAKE A WEBSITE. I’d recommend paying the money and getting a Squarespace site, but Wix works too. There are probably a dozen others out there that I don’t know about. If you’re under 35 this will be easy for you. If you are over 35 you may need to give a 9th grader some pizza to help you out.
This website should have:
- a great video that introduces you to us in a couple of minutes or less (by great I mean it can be shot with an iPhone and edited on iMovie)
- links of media of you doing your thing (speaking, singing, leading, examples of your body of work)
- a button on the front page that says “resume”
- this resume should be ONE page, preferably done in Apple Pages or something similar with some simple graphical design (not too much)
Here are some examples that I’ve held on to that are favorites.
One I’d draw your attention to is KristinMiller.site - mainly because I shot that video and had never used iMovie before. She did her own resume and is not a graphic designer. It took me a total of 3 hours of work. (So, in other words…please no bad videos if I can do it anyone can).
// THIRDLY, NETWORK. Sit still with a blank screen or sheet of paper and make a list of everyone you know who is connected in and around your tribe (area of the country, denomination or type of church) and you personally. I believe you should have ten to twenty names. You should email all of these people with the link to your website. The email should be personally, short and letting them know you are beginning to look.
You should email them every 3 weeks until your transition is over. People doubt this when I recommend it but I’m telling you this is basically what I do when searching on behalf of others. Awesome people will not reply the 2nd or 3rd time…but there’s a moment at some point they will reply and say “you won’t believe who I just got off the phone with…” Someone who is looking for you.
For every hour you spend staring at job posting boards or spamming your awesome website resume to churches you’ve never heard of, you MUST spend 10x on networking. For every dollar you spend on cold leads you should spend 10x on networking.
// EXPECTATIONS AND THINGS THAT HAVEN’T CHANGED.
You should expect at least a six-month transition. Do not overly invest emotionally.
You must work on this like you are working on a long term project. Work on it a couple of hours a week and put it away and get back to life.
You must finish well. (Please read this post.) Your next six months or year should be your best six months or year.
Prioritize these six things (please read this as well) I think we’re all looking for these six.
So do the above homework, pray, and then allow God to be God and guide you forward. I say often that I have seen God part the sea for some candidates, but honestly, that is like 2 out of 2800. The rest of the time it felt like a long walk following a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. I’m never sure where it’s going but we know that God knows and he is not surprised by any of it.