Personal Update (July 2012)

Last updated Aug 1, 2012 by Matt

Thank you for reading my updates. It is a comfort to know that God’s people are praying for us. I trust that July has not been too hot for you (yeah, right). We’ve been managing as best we can, trying to limit the use of air conditioning, but some days are just too uncomfortable. Thankfully, we’ve had some money come in recent months that have afforded us the specific luxury of supplementing our utilities.

My wife’s parents visited us for a few days early in the month. God provided the means for us to go to the Creation Museum for a couple days while they were with us. It was a good time to get away, short though it was. Not much else happened on the family front. Zoo days (we have a pass). Swimming in the apartment complex pool—that is essentially the family-related news. The rest of this update is on the job front.

‘Headhunter’ Hiring Secrets

A couple weeks ago, I was job hunting up in the Detroit area. Having a couple hours between appointments, I decided to spend some time in a public library. As I looked around, I came across a job hunting book from the 90s. I read through most of it. Good stuff. Timeless principles, some of them even timely for where I am today. After reading that book, I decided to re-tool my tactics in hunting for a job.

That evening I searched Amazon.com for a popular and high-rated job hunting book. Coming in at number 12 as ‘Headhunter’ Hiring Secrets: The Rules of the Hiring Game Have Changed . . . Forever!. I chose it because it has an average rating of 5-stars with 162 rates. The book is written from the perspective of, as you can gather, a headhunter. One of the main premises of the book is that job hunting (and hiring) has changed since the economic downturn. No longer are employers looking for who they can include in their search; their priority is to exclude as many candidates as possible. From this premise, Skip Freeman offers (what I think is) helpful advice for job hunting.

Yes, the book has no explicit religious moorings, it is completely secular. But a discerning reader can digest the principles by grinding them through a biblical worldview. What is more, if I understand the rules by which the employer I seek is playing, I can better prepare for my objective—a job.

On a side note, reading this book has given me the motivation to write something for men in ministry who are looking for pastoral positions. There are so many methods out there, but I have yet to see a cogent, codified presentation from a candidate’s perspective. Every published thing I’ve seen comes from the churches perspective. Granted, I’ve seen some good blog posts on the topic, but nothing systematic. Alas, I’m a nobody with little credibility at this point, but we’ll see what the Lord wants to do with my idea.

Some Interviews But No offers

Since reading most of the book and attempting to implement its principles, I have had a few interviews. Each was a good opportunity and I was able to communicate what I thought my value was to the company I was interviewing with. But there are no offers as of yet. It’s a process, I know, and I will press on trusting the Lord to lead me in the way.

On an ‘up’ note, Monday of this week was a day of good encouragement. Not only did I have an interview, but I also had two other possible leads throughmy network in Detroit. One of those seems like a pretty good prospect.

Hope to Move to Detroit this Month

The possibility I mentioned last month of working with a church in the Detroit area and being compensated with their parsonage is moving ahead. I would consider it “verbally confirmed” but there are still some logistics to be worked out. I’m excited about the opportunity and I hope to be able to explain in detail the arrangement in the near future. For now, though, I’ll just mention that I am helping with renovations to the parsonage and that is the only thing precluding us from moving in at this point.

Needs and Petitions

Without a job our funds are being depleted rapidly. Though we have cut unnecessary and extraneous expenses, our present funds will not last much longer. Our financial situation is not dire, but our concerns rise as the days tick on. My goal is to be out of here and up to Detroit by the middle of September at the latest, leaving this apartment to (hopefully) be rented out October 1. We would certainly rejoice if things happened more quickly, but that seems like the most realistic at this point. My hope is that the Lord’s timing would allow for a job as soon as we are up there—that would be my desire.

I concluded last month’s post with a financial plea and I’d like to do the same here. Would you to consider financially support me and my family through seminary or until we are stable. Again, I know this is rather unorthodox, but any amount would be greatly appreciated. Please consider it. If you are interested in helping us, please contact me.