Get To Know You

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

The other day I was thinking about this “new” family at church - thinking about how much I was enjoying getting to know them and how cool it was that they were getting really involved in things - appreciative of this new relationship.

And then it hit me.

They weren’t really new. They had been a part of our church for more than two years.

Two. Years.

I made a connection all of the sudden with why I find it disturbing when I review a resume of a pastoral staff person who has never been at a church for more than three years at a time. I think we are often short-sighted about long term relationships.

I’m sure this has something to do with the demands of our instantaneous culture, our outlook on quick fix discipleship, and on and on. But in any case, it’s just sad.

I do understand that occasionally it is clear quickly that a church and a staff person are not goign to be the right match for long term success. Most church hiring processes don’t allow for a thorough enough vetting process, especially when the church “knows” the candidate already. I’ll write more on this later.

I pray that we will do what we need to do to foster deep, long term relationships that can inspire others and represent Christ well.

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Christmas Season

Saturday, November 29th, 2008

saturday

yesterday
bride put the finishing touches on the christmas decorations in the house
we are blessed to have a lot of very nice stuff
there is one item that always takes me back

it was from 1980, the christmas of the year we met
bride has beyond excellent embroidery skills
and through the late fall, she was working on this
interesting christmas embroidery -
a decorated christmas tree with an elf standing by it
simple, and really cool

you may laugh at that - but all fall
she was doing this in plain view of me
sometimes while we were watching TV together
or just hanging out
i watched her work on it and i thought it was really cool
that she could do intricate artistic work like that -
hours and hours and hours she worked on it

i did not see it completed
until christmas morning that year
when i opened up a present from her to me
inside the box
was a simple
beautiful christmas stocking

she had made it for me without me realizing it
it was white with big red trim at the top
and my name in white thread cursive on the red trim
on the white part was the embroidered scene
that she had been working on for weeks

i’m sitting here right now trying to think
of a christmas present i have liked better than that
or that surprised me more -

i can’t

i just now glanced slightly off to the left to tell kid1 goodnight
and there it was…
hanging on the fireplace mantle
i love that thing

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Thanksgiving Week

Monday, November 24th, 2008

I love this week. I think it is my favorite of the year. Yeah, I love Christmas and all, but my favorite week has been Thanksgiving week for years now. Â Family, Food, Football - making ourselves take the time out to overtly be thankful together. Â I love it. Â I hope this is a great week for you.Â

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Your Job Is Not In Danger

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Jerry Jones let us frustrated Cowboy fans know this week that Wade Phillips’ job is not in danger.

When I hear a sports owner or similar leader say that about a high-profile staff member, I usually think, “Well, it’s the beginning of the end.” Unfortunately, in case after case after case one of the first things that is said when someone’s job is in danger is “Someone’s job is not in danger.” It feels like once those words are uttered, the clock begins to tick.

I don’t know why this is done, and I don’t have time to analyze it. I suppose it is some kind of human nature / political / fallen world kind of thing.

Explaining the why is not really important. What is important is that when you hear those words said about you, you should probably take some action. I suppose you expect a search guy to say something like that. But in case you haven’t figured this out yet, try to remember that you are only half as marketable without a job as you are with one - maybe less than half. This has less to do with you than it does with the other dozens of marketable, happy folks who are equally qualified for the position.

Didn’t mean to bring you down.

Have a great day!

-Greg Allen
GregAllen@TheShepherdsStaf.com
972.434.2408

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Update

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

I’m embarrassed that this blog has not been updated very frequently. I’m trying to find the right way to add the updating of this blog into my routine. It isn’t that I have nothing to say - I just don’t remember to document it here.

At any rate, the first step is taking a first step. So consider it updated for today.

Have a great weekend

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the secret

Saturday, July 26th, 2008

I talk to churches all the time about posting positions on the Internet. Typical conversation goes like this…

“Yeah, we posted to this website, and then we were inundated with all kinds of unqualified applicants. We couldn’t believe it!”

It’s funny. They are actually surprised.

I read an ad today that I just had to repost here. Obviously, this church has suffered through the mountain of resumes blasted to them a time or two, and they’ve had enough! But the apparently also discovered the secret of Internet job postings. “Just yell at people in all caps and they’ll quit blasting the non-matching resumes…”

” (church) is currently looking for an Executive Pastor to become a part of an exciting, expanding and vibrant ministry. (church) is a non-denominational, international teaching ministry with close to 30 countries represented in our worshiping body. (church) is located in (city / state)- a vital part of the (local) community. The rich history of this area along with the international trade, tourism, military bases and agriculture provide a diverse socio-economic and cultural base for this location. QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ONLY need apply.”

Yep. That’ll stop them.

If you’d like to talk about how to be less passive and more strategic in targeting your candidate, let me know!

-Greg Allen
The Shepherd’s Staf
972.434.2408
GregAllen@TheShepherdsStaf.com
http://www.TheShepherdsStaf.com

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Summer

Friday, July 18th, 2008

When you work with churches, you realize quickly that summer is not handled very well in terms of staff availability. Not only that, but every code word in the book is used when trying to determine a staff member’s whereabouts.

This isn’t a complaint. It’s merely an observation.

Now get out there and campmissionimpactexcelelevatevbs!

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Resume Tip #168

Friday, April 25th, 2008

Trust me on this, people.

#168
“Before adding your picture to your resume, run the idea by someone besides your spouse or your mother. And then add it only after exercising extreme caution.”

If you are a guy, think about how you feel when your wife asks if the dress she’s wearing makes her look fat. Use that filter to interpret the answer you get when you ask someone if you should include your picture on your resume.

Trust me on this. I’m trying to help you. Really.

Greg Allen
The Shepherd’s Staf
GregAllen@TheShepherdsStaf.com

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