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Don't Just Send a Resume: How to Find the Right Job in a Local Church
When God says, “Follow me,” do you know how?
If you work in Christian ministry, it’s likely that at some point in your career, God will call you from one church to another. Do you know how to make this transition effectively? Moving can be scary and full of Where do I start the job search process? Which people do I talk with, and what do I send to them? How do I know if my family and I will fit in at a new church? And how do I tell people I’m leaving?
This audiobook is intended to help you answer those questions so that the hiring process goes well. And when the hiring process does go well, a lot of pain can be avoided - for the pastor and the church.
What we pastors need is solid coaching that is theologically informed and practically oriented. We need to know how the gospel empowers us to interview with both humility and confidence. We need anecdotes from real hiring processes, and we need detailed strategies for every step of the way, so we can transition with excellence, protect our families, respect the church, and honor God.
If you work in Christian ministry, it’s likely that at some point in your career, God will call you from one church to another. Do you know how to make this transition effectively? Moving can be scary and full of Where do I start the job search process? Which people do I talk with, and what do I send to them? How do I know if my family and I will fit in at a new church? And how do I tell people I’m leaving?
This audiobook is intended to help you answer those questions so that the hiring process goes well. And when the hiring process does go well, a lot of pain can be avoided - for the pastor and the church.
What we pastors need is solid coaching that is theologically informed and practically oriented. We need to know how the gospel empowers us to interview with both humility and confidence. We need anecdotes from real hiring processes, and we need detailed strategies for every step of the way, so we can transition with excellence, protect our families, respect the church, and honor God.
Audible Audio
Published May 15, 2019
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About the author
Benjamin Vrbicek
13 books7 followersBenjamin and his wife Brooke have six children. Benjamin enjoys reading, wrestling with his children, dating his wife, eating at Chipotle, and riding his bicycle in the early hours of the morning.
He has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and For The Church, and is the author several books, including "Don't Just Send a Resume," "More People to Love," and "Struggle Against Porn" (forthcoming with Rainer Publishing in 2019).
He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a teaching pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, PA.
He has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, and For The Church, and is the author several books, including "Don't Just Send a Resume," "More People to Love," and "Struggle Against Porn" (forthcoming with Rainer Publishing in 2019).
He earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri and a Masters in Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a teaching pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church in Harrisburg, PA.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 12, 2019
“Don’t Just Send a Resume” is a gift for those starting out in pastoral ministry. It will not only answer “how-to” questions about searching for a ministry position, but it will also help you do so with the right expectations and the right heart. I can see readers reaching for this valuable resource throughout the entire job-search process. I wish I read this book as a seminary student!
May 18, 2023
A brief, clear, and helpful resources for those seeking full time ministry work, or seeking a pastoral transition. It is both practical, comprehensive, and (may I dare say) gospel-centered. Highly recommend.
May 12, 2019
4.5. Really well executed with countless practical tips.
March 13, 2024
Currently applying for ministry positions, and this book is incredibly helpful, especially for first timers like me. Definitely stopped me from making some mistakes.
Hopefully I’ll be able to return with a success story, but it gets 5 stars on the front end!
Hopefully I’ll be able to return with a success story, but it gets 5 stars on the front end!
March 9, 2019
Benjamin Vrbicek writes Don’t Just Send a Resume for a very specific audience: those looking for a job in vocational ministry. Not only does Vrbicek succeed in writing the best book I know of on that topic –it’s a must have for anyone look for a ministry job—but he’s created a book with much more value than that.
Vrbicek begins by setting the theological foundation for his project, noting the theme of biblical transitions and the sovereignty of God. He also notes the spiritual purposes God has for us in transitions, including destroying our idols, and building faith. He quotes Timothy Keller who says, “Sometimes God seems to be killing us when he’s actually saving us.” The theological mooring remains strong throughout the book. Near the end, Vrbicek reminds us, “[U]nity isn’t just biblical in an abstract sense. It’s the Trinitarian telos of gospel ministry.”
Vrbicek then dives into the nitty gritty. Leaning on his track experience, he breaks the book into three sections based on running: 1) smoking the curve (starting strong); 2) making the move; 3) finishing the race. In these chapters, he goes over everything from cover letters, resumes, correspondence, networking, interviewing, to negotiating. He gets as granular as suggesting editing apps (I’m looking forward to checking into some of his tips), social media tips, and how to prepare for an interview (he has 83 practice questions!). The book also includes two very helpful appendices “Job-Search Checklist,” and “131 Questions to Ask a Potential Employer.”
Weaved through these chapters is wisdom offered through a dozen contributors including William Vanderbloemen, Jared Wilson, Dave Harvey, and Kevin DeYoung. They are thoughtful contributions that add helpful perspective (Jared Wilson’s “Know Where You’re Going: Four Questions to Ask the Search Team that Go Deeper” is worth the price of the book, alone). Something that someone might not appreciate about this book is how useful it is for search committees: sprinkled throughout is great advice for search committees to help guide the process (he includes a 24 step process), lots of helpful questions to ask, and pointers in terms of setting up a new hire for success.
I highly recommend Vrbicek’s Don’t Just Send a Resume. It should be on every seminarian and every pastor’s bookshelf, not just for themselves, but for also for those who they might be raising up in their congregation and for search committees.
For more, see www.thebeehive.live.
Vrbicek begins by setting the theological foundation for his project, noting the theme of biblical transitions and the sovereignty of God. He also notes the spiritual purposes God has for us in transitions, including destroying our idols, and building faith. He quotes Timothy Keller who says, “Sometimes God seems to be killing us when he’s actually saving us.” The theological mooring remains strong throughout the book. Near the end, Vrbicek reminds us, “[U]nity isn’t just biblical in an abstract sense. It’s the Trinitarian telos of gospel ministry.”
Vrbicek then dives into the nitty gritty. Leaning on his track experience, he breaks the book into three sections based on running: 1) smoking the curve (starting strong); 2) making the move; 3) finishing the race. In these chapters, he goes over everything from cover letters, resumes, correspondence, networking, interviewing, to negotiating. He gets as granular as suggesting editing apps (I’m looking forward to checking into some of his tips), social media tips, and how to prepare for an interview (he has 83 practice questions!). The book also includes two very helpful appendices “Job-Search Checklist,” and “131 Questions to Ask a Potential Employer.”
Weaved through these chapters is wisdom offered through a dozen contributors including William Vanderbloemen, Jared Wilson, Dave Harvey, and Kevin DeYoung. They are thoughtful contributions that add helpful perspective (Jared Wilson’s “Know Where You’re Going: Four Questions to Ask the Search Team that Go Deeper” is worth the price of the book, alone). Something that someone might not appreciate about this book is how useful it is for search committees: sprinkled throughout is great advice for search committees to help guide the process (he includes a 24 step process), lots of helpful questions to ask, and pointers in terms of setting up a new hire for success.
I highly recommend Vrbicek’s Don’t Just Send a Resume. It should be on every seminarian and every pastor’s bookshelf, not just for themselves, but for also for those who they might be raising up in their congregation and for search committees.
For more, see www.thebeehive.live.
November 19, 2024
Very helpful in every aspect of the search process.
February 12, 2019
Anyone looking for a job in a local church will want to read this book, and all of us who already have found one will wish we had it back then. With his happy, humorous, and friendly writer's voice, Benjamin Vrbicek deftly blends the relevant theological truths with truly helpful tips for making the most of the search process from the candidate's end. I keep giving away copies to my friends.
July 22, 2019
This book is excellent in describing what a pastoral candidate needs to do to prepare application materials for pastoral positions. Vrbicek offers lots of great advice in the entire process, and he includes a list of 100+ questions for a pastoral candidate to ask a church. I highly recommend this book!
August 28, 2020
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would.
So incredibly practical and Biblically rich. Very well thought through and filled with personal stories. I loved every part of this book and would highly recommend it for any and all pastors - not just those seeking a job currently. Thank you Mr. Vrbicek!
So incredibly practical and Biblically rich. Very well thought through and filled with personal stories. I loved every part of this book and would highly recommend it for any and all pastors - not just those seeking a job currently. Thank you Mr. Vrbicek!
September 29, 2019
This is an indispensable resource. It should be required reading in every seminary program, or at least recommended.
January 6, 2024
I just finished up this book before going into the final semester of my MDiv program as I am looking for jobs. This was extremely helpful to read and encouraged me to think about some things I did not consider previously. This was well worth the read!
February 15, 2019
An incredibly helpful book from a lot of different angles, not just applying for church jobs. I will be revisiting this often.
February 16, 2021
Helpful info. I'd hoped for examples to see how to apply strategies suggested. No examples was disappointing. The book was very helpful.
April 8, 2022
Wish I'd been recommended this as a freshman pursuing a BA in Pastoral Ministries.
March 6, 2025
This will not be the last time I read this book. Very helpful in many ways.
March 12, 2025
Very very helpful if you're in the church job search process
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews