Chris vermeulen : my leadership pathway

Not all residents are young twenty somethings. Chris Vermeulen is a great example of a second-career resident. He serves at one of our favorite places with Rick Riddering who serves in leadership development and as residency director. Here’s a take on Chris’ development in his own words:

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I serve as a Resident of Discipleship and Assimilation at Faith Church in Dyer, IN, where I am most recently leading Alpha. My journey began with a lack of fulfillment in my job, which as a husband and dad of 2 kids might have seemed risky, but I no longer wanted to work for the money; my priority was helping people, and ministry seemed the likely choice where I could have the most authentic impact.

Prior to residency, I had volunteered in children's ministry, while also helping my brother run a business, and I was a project manager for another company. I think my leadership style is more of being a friend first. That didn't always translate well in the business world, however.

My ministry pursuit points back to God instilling a longing in me to be in community with others working toward a common purpose. I wanted my mission on earth to mean something rather than a pursuit of personal gain. While in a Bible Study with the Associate Pastor at my church, I shared that I was thinking about ministry. I started taking theology classes without a plan for what I was going to do with that degree, but 5 months into my studies, I received a phone call from the Director of Leadership Development from my church, which partnered with Leadership Pathway for residency.

When I began, I was expecting that God was going to change my life in a way that He never had before. I have loved growing close to the people I work with and becoming part of a family at my church. I truly come into work excited to do my job, and that is something I have never had before in my life.

I think the most difficult thing for me to learn was that ministry can be slow at times. I came from fast-paced work environments where results were critical. In ministry, there is a considerable amount of pondering, praying, and waiting for people to develop. I joke that we can't force people into relationships with Jesus Christ, but I wish we could.Initially, I was frustrated trying to get people actively engaged in Bible reading within their small groups. The time and effort I put in to prepare something for them seemed meaningless without their own preparation in advance. I’ve learned to extend grace and find better ways to meet them where they are, knowing they have full lives, with jobs and families.

I would say to senior leaders wondering why or how to make room for newer leaders on their team that residency is an extraordinary opportunity for people to gain experience in ministry by being discipled by other ministers. It is a unique position to learn on the job experience. Residency has been an absolute gift to me every day that I walk in the doors and get to learn how ministry is done at a high level. And I’d say to those like me (or those younger than me), to not be afraid to try something different. You don't know what you're truly good at until you fail at something that you weren't supposed to be doing. It is in finding out who we are not, in our failures, that we find out who we truly are.

What was important when you began vs. what’s important now?

It was important for me to be in a deep community with people who were walking towards Christ.

It is now important for me