Bree Hodnefield : My Leadership Pathway

For a long time, I was hesitant about ministry, but when I began to reflect on my life’s experiences as a camp counselor, small group leader, and an active participant in community outreach, I realized ministry is what I always naturally gravitated toward. As I was applying for jobs my senior year of college, I was connected to Leadership Pathway and and then to Rocky Mountain Christian Church. Both spoke into how much experience I'd be getting through residency, focusing on my growth as a church leader over the next two years.

Today, I am excelling and growing more in ministry than I ever thought I would. Working in ministry as a resident was especially challenging at first, because ministry is an area you have to ease into to build trust. I've always been a go-go-go type of person who throws out ideas, sees the holes, and goes after ways to improve or further what's already been put in place. So, it was difficult to put that side of me on hold temporarily while I learned the church’s culture and values and how the staff works together. This process has helped me grow as a leader, team player, and an individual. I've learned what good timing looks like, and I've built trust that has allowed me to sit in on planning meetings and make better contributions than I would have initially.

I believe churches all over should have this opportunity of bringing in young people as residents. It's awesome, especially when the church environment is healthy and willing to continue growing every day. My experience in residency has far exceeded any ministry experience I've ever had. The people, the place, the work, the encouragement, the hands-on projects have all grown me in ways I don't think I would have gained had I just stepped into a full-time position somewhere else. Especially coming right out of college, there is still so much for me to learn and know before having the confidence to take on a position solely myself.

Residency for me has been a team-player environment, where I’m able to bounce ideas off other people, have deeper conversations about potential changes or additions, help others get work done, offer and receive encouragement, and if I fail, there is always someone standing in my

corner, helping me up, discussing with me how things can be better moving forward.

Residency is such a great way to raise up future church leaders. We can't learn to be leaders unless someone first leads us.

Residency also allows for new and fresh perspectives. Mistakes should be expected, but those mistakes lead to growth. Residency can foster self-awareness in young leaders with their strengths and weaknesses, equipping them to lead well. And it provides young leaders the opportunity to grow to be the most well-rounded leaders they can be before stepping into a full- time leadership role.

When I first started in residency, I put my personal life and mental health last because being the best I could be at work was important to me; however, over the months that followed, I have since learned the value of balancing my work life with my personal life. It’s vitally important for me to prioritize both areas, because when I do that, I am the best leader, friend, and co-worker I can be.

There is a lot that goes into ministry, and if your heart is not prepared or open to what God has for you, it will leave you drained, exhausted, and less fulfilled. Come with the willingness to be taught. Some of the best leaders I know listen and take to heart the feedback they receive from others. They acknowledge those suggestions as ways to make adjustments and improvements in their leadership.

I have learned SO much since starting the residency program. I've learned the ins and outs of Google Suites, navigating Planning Center, Photoshop, InDesign, Canva, Lightroom, Wordpress, and even how to edit and put together videos with Premiere. In addition, I've learned how to manage a webpage, create and design a journal, run social media pages, write monthly curriculum, teach lessons on video more comfortably, make graphics, and plan big events for Kids ministry.

I’ve learned so much already, but some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is what the people I work with have modeled in their humility, prioritization, decision-making, hard but necessary conversations, and sharing the last 10%, rather than avoid my feelings.

I’m Bree Hodnefield, and this is my leadership pathway.