Katherine Simons
I am a Volunteer Leader at the Roswell United Methodist Church Job Networking Ministry and a member of RUMC since 1982. I have prior work experience as an owner of a healthcare staffing company, which I sold in 2007. I now use my time to volunteer for this ministry, HomeStretch, the North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and I serve on the Board of Directors for Atlanta Business Bank. My two married daughters grew up in this church and still live near us. They added two "sons" to our family and seven children. My husband and my dad are both active in this ministry as well as many of our closest friends and Sunday School class members.
Background/Experiences:
Founder/Owner DDS Staffing Resources 1984 - 2007
2006 Phenomenal Woman of North Fulton, ABWA award
2007 Community Service Award, Northern District Dental Society
2008 Volunteer of the Year Award, Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
About the Book: My purpose in writing this book is to provide a “cookbook” for pastors and church leaders, complete with a “menu” of choices designed for starting or expanding a ministry that is focused on helping our unemployed neighbors. I was amazingly surprised when 34 of the volunteers in our ministry submitted their stories about “why and how” they give their time and talents to Job Seekers.
Inside the pages, you will find a complete description of the elements of a Job Seeker ministry. The pieces can be cut and pasted for any size church or organization. In the chapter on New Job Networking Ministries you will read about how to start tomorrow. You will experience how much fun and reward we receive by partnering with our community to help people in crisis. You will also see that starting and sustaining a program such as this is truly not difficult, when people come together with passion and with a willingness to share from their gifts. Hopefully, you will not miss how a program like this can bring strength and vitality to your congregation, while expanding your reach in your town.
But here’s the surprise! I can’t wait until you read the stories from the volunteers! These stories are inspiring and often truly captivating. As you read these caring and dynamic stories, you will see that our focus on the unemployed could easily have some other ministry applications and could achieve the same results. The same principles that we use to apply on this important need and to harness the gifts of so many volunteers, can work in other volunteer programs, just as effectively. What is critical is that you begin with a small group of passionate individuals who unite around a common purpose to “love their neighbor” and that you continue to give others an opportunity to serve with their unique gifts.
Read, enjoy, laugh (for sure), and perhaps even cry a bit, but have fun pulling from "this" program recipe, and adding a little of “that”, to design your own special mix of ministry which is just right for your congregation.
Blessings!
