CRM - Empowering Leaders

Staff Development & Leader Training

CRM so values personal growth and learning that teachability---a teachable, ever-learning attitude, is one of our core values. The staff development and training program is designed to facilitate your holistic growth and personal development.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Ongoing training for people in vocational ministry is never solely academic or theoretical. It must be life-related, concerned with being and doing, not just knowing. It involves encouraging you in the work you are doing; equipping you with the latest tools and skills; and enhancing your particular ministry in any way that is needed. Because our ministry with people and churches is a developmental one, we must be constantly growing and developing ourselves to keep abreast of the changes God intends.

To that end, the SDCT has developed a family of personal and ministry development tools to assist your holistic growth. Each one consists of a simple one-page planning document that you may adapt to your own needs and learning goals.

Staff development and training seeks to help staff in two critical dimensions of ministry: transformational development and training, and life-long learning.

Transformational Development and Training: Effectiveness demands a teachable attitude and an intentional plan for growth. CRM is committed to all aspects of staff training, from initial assessment to retirement. Training in ministry formation encourages development of a range of interpersonal skills as well as skills in leading and coaching networks of leaders for personal and church renewal (re-focusing) and church planting. This includes New Staff Orientation, pre-field orientation for international staff, self-study modules, first-year internships, annual conferences, and an expanding array of blended learning options including live workshops, web-based learning experiences and specialty seminars.

Life-Long Learning: Continuing personal growth is essential for a maturing ministry perspective. CRM is committed to providing resources and educational opportunities for staff over a lifetime. Without personal growth, there will be no continuing professional or ministry effectiveness. Ministry is being, before effective doing; therefore, we emphasize life-long learning opportunities in a range of areas which shape who the person is. An entire menu of formal and external non-formal educational offerings has been designed and updated annually for ongoing staff development. The listing is a team effort and includes the full range of workshops and seminars that CRM staff provide for churches. This kind of "mosaic resourcing" offers multiple options for staff at various levels of experience and interest, as well as linkages with key churches and several different accrediting graduate schools and seminaries and their continuing education programs.

Download a copy of the SDCTeam’s 06 TLC-Modes of Missionary Influence and Care schematic.

NEW STAFF TRAINING PHASE

New staff completing their Assessment are immediately scheduled for a Training Consultation with their director-supervisor and/or Steve Hoke. A Preparation Checklist is customized for each individual, outlining specifically what further preparation is needed. New staff assume full responsibility for completing each step and reporting progress to their supervisor. The ideal context for this type of training in cross-cultural evangelism, discipleship and church planting is the local church when this is feasible and appropriate. CRM desires to partner in training with local churches who are equally committed to seeing their members equipped as World Christians.

To get an idea of the types of competencies and ministry skills each division requires, download the Training Checklists by your division (usMinistries, InnerCHANGE, International):

Download: usMinistries Training Checklist Email steve.hoke at crmleaders.org
Download: InnerCHANGE Training Checklist Email dorcas.mccown at crmleaders.org
Download: International Training Checklist Email steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

NEW STAFF TRAINING (NSO)

New Staff Orientation (NSO) is your entry into the CRM family. Held three times a year at the Anaheim office, typically the third week of January, May and September, the five day training provides an interactive overview of questions such as Who is CRM? What is this ministry/organization to which God has called us? How we carry out that ministry? and How to raise personal support to accomplish your vision and passion?

Contact Mary McInnes at the CRM office for exact dates via email at mary.mcinnes at crmleaders.org
Rhonda Gervais is the registrar and coordinator for the NSO sessions. Please call or contact her with any specific questions about the content of the week at rhonda.gervais at crmleaders.org.

419 SUPPORT-RAISING TRAINING

CRM’s Support Raising Training is the last two days in CRM’s New Staff Orientation. The intensive workshop, named for the Apostle Paul’s dependence on God’s sufficiency in Philippians 4:19, helps each new staff develop their heart theology based on Biblical patterns and principles, a personalized Financial Game Plan outlining the specific action steps toward full funding, and an array of additional support tools and aids.

Download: How do I raise support?, a notetaking guide
Download: Financial Appeal Action Plan
Download: The Monday Report, a weekly reporting Excel form
Download: Approaching Churches
Read Scott Morton’s excellent text overviewing the support raising process we subscribe to at CRM: Funding Your Ministry. Colorado Springs, CO: 1999.
Read Betty Barnett’s foundational description of a highly relational way to approach support raising in Friendraising. Seattle, WA: YWAM Publishing. 1991, 2003.
Read Bill Dillon’s book, PeopleRaising and his fundraising web site for articles, resources, and fresh ideas to spark your personal fundraising efforts. www.peopleraising.com
Articles and Resources
Just-for-Staff website>

Email Steve Hoke at steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

PRE-FIELD ORIENTATION

All CRM staff ministering in cross-cultural settings are required to attend an approved pre-field orientation program. The following organizations provide the best practical training for inter-cultural effectiveness:

Missionary Training International (MTI), Dr. Steve Sweatman, Director, provides character development and pre-field skill development training for cross-cultural missionaries and debriefing on the issues that are very practical and highly relevant to thriving in missions. Since 1995, CRM has sent most of our international candidates to MTI's three or four-week PFO programs. They offer three different pre-field programs and a re-entry debriefing week for teenagers or for families:

MTI Training Center
PO Box 201220
Palmer Lake, CO 80133
(719) 487-0111
Email: info@mti.org or website: http://www.mti.org

The Center for Intercultural Training (CIT), directed by Dr. George Schultz, is a cooperative effort of several mission agencies, providing a number of programs for those seeking training information. Their typical pre-field orientiaton (PFO) is 10-weeks, compared to MTI’s three or four week SPLICE program. Explore their Web site to discover how they might meet your training needs. Meet their trainers and partners, and take a look at their programs and training values. Feel free to contact them if they can serve you in anyway!

CIT
P.O. Box 250
Union Mills, NC 28167
(800) 887-786
http://www.cit-online.org

Toronto Missionary Training Center (Mission Prep),directed by Dr. Robert Cousins, provides a range of pre-field orientation and “Mission Prep” training modules at a lower rate than their American counterparts.

Mission Prep
36 Goldberry Square
Toronto, M1C 3H5
Ontario, Canada
(416) 284-5645
Email: missionprep@sympatico.ca or website: http://www.missionprep.com

Russian Language Ministries, directed by Dr. Marc Canner, has helped equip numerous CRM staff headed into Russia.

Columbia, SC
http://www

SBC/International Missionary Board (IMB) Missionary Learning Center is a state-of-the-art site providing a range of cross-cultural prep modules, as well as a growing library of distance education modules (including Church Planting, Sharpening Your Relationship Skills, Conflict Resolution, and others).

Center for Excellence in Leadership (ICEL)
IMB/Missionary Learning Center
Mission Lane
Rockville, VA
(800) 999-3113
http://imb.org

LIFE-LONG LEARNING PHASE

We want all staff to have an annual customized Personal Development Plan (PDP) that will guide their intentional learning through the year. New staff will dialogue with their director to design a personalized one to two year PDP, outlining specific continuing education steps related to particular needs and interests of that person. Twice a year staff submit a Professional Development Update to their director-supervisor (with their semi-annual budget), who will update the original plan, and forward copies to the CRM office to become a part of their personnel file. In addition, any staff can schedule an appointment with Steve Hoke while visiting Anaheim (or at Annual Conferences) to discuss long-range formal or non-formal learning opportunities.

CRM has created a learning environment that is based on character and learning competencies that are critical for the long-haul. The CRM Competency Profile is a self-assessment tool for incoming staff to establish their entry-level baseline from which to measure progress on a regular basis.

Download: Personal Development Worksheet
Download: CRM’s Competency Profile

SABBATICAL

CRM is a mission leader in establishing a generous Sabbatical program for the mutual development of the CRM staff member and the organization. To facilitate their maximum personal and professional growth, CRM has identified the following purpose and objectives for its Sabbatical Program:

Purpose: To encourage staff to focus periodic and extended time for renewal and growth.

Objectives:

To provide three months to a year away from full-time ministry responsibilities every seventh year for intentional reflection on ministry; and
To provide an intensive time for physical refreshment, spiritual enrichment and ministry development.
Sabbatical Planning: Staff should receive clearance for their Sabbatical in dialogue with their director-supervisor. The following documents have been created to help you customize your Sabbatical period to your specific learning and growth needs.
Sabbatical Coach: Steve Hoke is available to advise you during your planning, and to help you identify and recruit a “Coach” to monitor your progress on a monthly basis.

Download: CRM’s Sabbatical Policy
Download: Application for Sabbatical
Download: Taking Sabbath Seriously, a template for your Sabbatical
Download: Sabbatical Prep Guide
Download: Sabbatical Planning Principles
More information can be found at http://www.crmleaders.org Just for Staff [HRD policy > Sabbatical Policy > Sabbatical Planning]

TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FORMATION

ReFocusing Leaders Training
Revitalization/ReFocusing Leaders web site: Training in N.Am > ReFocusing Leaders Year One
Church Multiplication Training
Church Multiplication web site: Training in North America
NieuCommunities – general description of NC and its 6 postures of learning
NieuCommunities web site > training sites and schedules, Postures, etc.
Articles and Resources:

Additional Training Modules recommended:

Sharpening Your Interpersonal Skills is a one-week intensive workshop in 18 essential communication skills proven vital on the mission field. It is required training for all new staff within their first year of joining CRM. SYIS workshops are designed to enhance ministry effectiveness by providing training in key areas of biblical knowledge, godly attitudes and the practical skills needed for developing and maintaining healthy relationships. Training is very interactive, utilizing the most effective methods of interactive adult learning. Learning activities include some lecture, Bible study, small group tasks, whole group interaction, demonstrations of skills, practicing of skills and prayerful reflection. Contact ITP for schedules and costs.

International Training Partners (ITP)
7920 Camfield Circle
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
(719) 282-0489
http://www.itpartners.org/workshops

LEADER DEVELOPMENT

In late 2006 CRM launched a fresh initiative for in-house leader training. Specialized training was offered for New Directors in 2003 and for all Directors in 2004. Starting in 2007, regular leader training and cross-training for all staff will be offered on a consistent basis. A design task force will frame a learning mosaic of multiple levels beginning with New Staff Orientation, to the second and third levels of intentional staff training and leader development.

DIRECTOR TRAINING

Directors received specialized training in the following four major Role Responsibilities:

Personal Development
Establishing Team Vision
Team Building
Organizational Communication

Learning modules from these events are available from steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

Other resources:

Director Training Resource CD’s from 2003 and 2004 are available from lori.larson at crmleaders.org
Articles and Resources
Leadership resources from Dr. J. Robert Clinton can be found at www.barnabaspublishers.com
Reviews on books for leaders by ACMC’s Dr. David Mays are available at http://www.davidmays.org

Existing leader development training available:

The following leader development programs and modules are currently available within and outside of CRM:

Your Leadership Grip enhanced by Birkman
CRM’s own Dr. Paul Ford has developed a spiritual gift discovery process known as “Your Leadership Grip” which can be utilized by individuals and teams. Paired with The Birkman Report personality inventory, the “Grip-Birkman Plus” provides powerful feedback to leaders on their natural and supernatural power zones.
Contact paul.ford at crmleaders.org or web site http://www.drpaulford.org
Email ChurchSMART to ask for the Grip-Birkman package. Churchsmart@compuserve.com or website http://www.churchsmart.com/ > Birkman section > Explanation of Birkman test, coaching, etc.

The Southern Baptist IMB offers over 15 distance education modules in a range of subjects designed to extend the ministry skills of field missionaries. Check out the International Center for Excellence in Leadership (ICEL) (800) 999-3113
The Missionary Learning Center (MLC) line is (804) 219-1816. Email Susan Atkinson, ICEL Curriculum Administrator, at SAtkinson3 at imb.org
The Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) offers a wide range of leader develop seminars in three sites across North America. Week-long courses are pricey, but discounts are available to staff of non-profit organizations. Find out more at http://www.ccl.org
Barnabas Publishers (all Dr. J. Robert Clinton’s books and papers) web site http://www.bobbyclinton.com
For more information, email steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

CONTINUING EDUCATION

CRM is committed to helping every staff maximize their gifts and abilities through life-long learning opportunities. We encourage staff to consider professional development opportunities each year. In addition, CRM has a generous study leave policy which encourages staff to pursue focused graduate training that will further your personal, spiritual and ministry formation.

CRM subscribe to the well-known maxim, “Leaders read.” But too often staff feel overwhelmed by the virtual flood of literature emerging weekly. An invaluable introduction on how to read quickly and effectively is Dr. Bobby's short handbook, Reading on the Run (download) which outlines six different levels of reading. Mastering these six reading styles will greatly aid your life-long learning.

Articles and Resources:

Dr. Ted Ward's metaphor of the “Split Rail Fence” provides a helpful analogy for understanding the nature of professional education.
Dr. Fred Holland’s “Two-Track Model” provides an alternate metaphor for describing how field experience, cognitive input and values compose the three vital components of life-learning.
Over 50 articles and books by Dr. J. Robert (Bobby) Clinton are available from Barnabas Publishers: www.barnabaspublishers.com
Azusa Pacific University web site www.apu.edu
Biola University/ Talbot Theological Seminary web site: www.biola.edu
Columbia International University web site www.ciu.edu
Fuller School of Intercultural Studies web site www.fuller.edu
Trinity International University web site: www.teds.edu
For more information, email steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Steve Hoke serves as CRM's in-house academic advisor and mentor to staff considering graduate programs. In addition, a growing number of staff (including Myra Perrine, Terry Walling, Neil Tibbott, Steve Ogne, Gary Mayes and others) are teaching grad courses at key seminaries and graduate schools around the country. We are developing linkages with leading seminaries who will accept CRM training in the U.S. and internationally.

If you are considering further professional development or graduate education, Steve can help you identify and evaluate the alternatives, plan your course of study, and explore with you exactly what kind of degree and program would be most advantageous for you at this point in your ministry.

Articles and Resources:

Download: Outline for Proposal Writing, designed to help doctoral students walk through the creation of their graduate study program resulting in a dissertation proposal.
Email steve.hoke at crmleaders.org

CARING PHASE:

CRM believes that staff families deserve the best customized care and nurture available to maximize their productivity and effectiveness. The SDCTeam was designed to bring these dreams to reality. Explore the rest of this website to learn about the Care dimension.

The life-long learning and development plan is designed with you in mind. Our commitment is to work with you and provide as much encouragement and assistance as is needed to facilitate your long-term ministry goals and objectives. We are open to any questions, creative suggestions and ideas on how to better prepare our staff and keep them on the leading edge. We’re in this together. We look forward to getting to know you and working with you.