Job Market 2009

I LOVE THIS!

Web Design in the Ministry

Recently I've realized that more often than not, smaller churches and ministries have websites that don't do them any justice. I'm also realizing that more and more people are using the web to find out about churches before they visit, and are forming opinions based on what they see on the site. If these churches want to convey a message to their potential future members, they are going to need a web presence that is attractive and hopefully tells people what they can expect when they visit. The worst case senario is a website that gives people a negative impression about the church and causes them to not want to visit.

That being said, I just finished my first "Designing Webpages" class at the Junior College and will be starting my second this week (the great thing is that they are online classes, so I can work in the comfort of my home after the kids are in bed). I was thinking it would be really cool to get some traction by volunteering to fix some websites that are broken (I know of a few), and improve some that are just plain terrible (I know of a lot). After completing a couple of these projects I could be a web design hero! I might need a cape…

Anyway, web design is a skill that you can learn on your own. I'm taking classes because it's giving me a great jumpstart, but the class is nothing more than working through some lessons in a book. I could've done that 100% on my own, and so can you if you are interested. The book is Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML and it walks you through learning HTML, XHTML (which are extremely similar) and CSS from the very beginning. I've found it extremely easy to use and understand, and very entertaining. It's not a dry textbook but more of an interactive, hands on experience.

Also, there are a ton of free resources on the web. One of the best is W3 Schools, which has up to date info and free tutorials that walk you through how to properly write HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, HTML DOM, XML DOM, PHP, XSLT, XPath, XSL-FO, WML, and CSS (don't worry, I don't know what most of these are either). I want to learn this stuff because there is a huge value in having computer skills in the workplace today, but this is also something that could be beneficial in the ministry. I would encourage anyone who is interested in having more to offer their local church to consider learning at least the basics of web design. If you can increase your church's web presence, you could potentially reach thousands of people with the Gospel who otherwise may never know your church exists.

My Hero

Do you think his wife whispers sweet nothings in his ear?

AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

'GASP'.......BURIED....IN.... HOME-WORK..... eeeehhhhhaaaaaeeee!!!!!! (that's the sound of me suffocating)

The Most Incredible Job Opportunity Ever!!!

I do a lot of thinking about work, jobs, opportunities, education, etc. because I'm always trying to find a way to make tons of money and still have time to spend it doing the things I enjoy, or find a position that I enjoy (in which case I wouldn't need tons of money). While contemplating these deep and pithy ponderings I have come to an interesting realization: I think I've discovered the perfect job!

For someone who is self motivated and enjoys a flexible work schedule, doesn't like doing the same thing every day, likes to be out and about instead of stuck in an office, enjoys a wide variety of tasks instead of specializing in the same thing all the time, wants unlimited potential for increased responsibility and leadership opportunities, would like to travel nationally and internationally, likes people, wants to have a fulfilling and rewarding job, and wants a job where all these benefits and rewards are not necessarily tied to experience or training, this is the perfect opportunity!

What job could offer so many appealing benefits you might ask? You may be stunned by my answer, but hear me out. How about full-time Christian Ministry? No really. Think about it. You can pretty much create a position for yourself if you are motivated enough. If a Pastor knew that by bringing you on board, you would increase the church attendance by a healthy percentage through personal soul-winning, building your Sunday School class, and mentoring subordinate leaders to do the same it's a no-brainer! If you decide the Lord would have you be a Pastor or Missionary and start your own work (or take over one) you will have even more opportunity to use those creative juices and grow. No matter what your position is, you have the opportunity to grow that ministry, train up new subordinate leaders, and replicate yourself creating unlimited potential for more responsibility and higher leadership positions. Travel is a big part of the ministry whether it is visiting the church's missionaries on the mission field, taking the youth to youth conference or youth activities, going to pastor's school, or driving across the country to purchase a new bus for the bus ministry. Reno Likins from Uniquely Youth Ministries built his teen ministry to the point where they could afford to take snomobiling trips to Colorado, rent limos to go to youth conference, and go on all kinds of really cool trips. Often we don't think the ministry can be this fun and exciting because we are thinking too small. The truth is, a ministry leader is only limited by the amount of prayer, time, and effort he or she is willing to put into their work. I would encourage all of you to reconsider what you are planning on doing with your life because there is nothing out here in the world that is nearly as fulfilling as serving God.

On Specialization

"A Man should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." - Robert A. Heinlein