I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through my job search without that group!

One minor correction under your “Help from the Bishop” paragraph. You wrote:

The bishop’s storehouse does what it can to make you feel uncomfortable but when I went it seemed as if everyone there had their eyes down… embarrassed to be there. We were just a bunch of people down on our luck, really.

I believe it should read: comfortable. =)

We are lucky to live in a region of the world where true kindness is abundant.

Thanks for sharing. I have done some work training the LDS Employment staff and love the church’s commitment to helping people provide for their families through work.

I also know of very active employment services offered through churches across the nation — The Church at Rock Creek in Little Rock runs a full program, Mariners Church in Irvine, CA has a monthly events and ongoing support, and there are many, many in between, but too any churches haven’t stepped up.

I have felt for spiritual leaders over the last two years who have been bombarded with unemployed congregants who need help they are not equipped to provide. Unemployment and job searching is more than logistical; there is a spiritual element to being out of work and trying getting back in, while maintaining your sense of value and providing for your family. Prayer, fellowship, resources and spiritual support can be very helpful. But most religious leaders are unprepared to help with the practical side of getting back to work.

Here are a few resources from Susan Whitcomb that could be helpful for groups that want to offer more:

– The Careers Crash Course for Ministry Leaders: Tips, Tools, and Do’s & Don’ts for Coaching People from a Biblical Perspective on their Job Search Journey.
Access at: http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/ViewCart.aspx?mid=E18EF348-D24F-4D67-B46F-13312BA9123D&sctoken=4b60b7557f544fee84870e2ef926dc43&bhcp=1

– ‘The Christian’s Career Journey’, available through Amazon. This book would be a great resource for the church library or to have on-hand to give out to people in need.

Churches that want to esablish an employment ministry could reach out for support at
http://www.worknetsolutions.com

Thanks for starting this important conversation, Jason, and for all you do.

I thought I was lucky when I left my job. I had some savings and no other mouth to feed except my own. Fast forward to now things are really tight but I’m too embarrassment to talk about it so I just joke around. Its also the reason I haven’t mentioned it in church, I just can’t deal with them. Its hard enough when you hear, “what you haven’t found a job yet,” from your own family. So I’m glad stumbled upon your website this month and several of your posts. It gave me a chance to vent and clear my head.

I’ve been reading about how I need to go to networking meets or get togethers. Not sure where they would be or even how to find them. So thanks to this post, I actually tried the third option. It seem like it was going to be a miss but after several tries I hit the mother load. There is junior college I actually went to, that host meetings along with a list of churches in my county that also have meetings. Though a few of them at a ungodly hour in the morning. I have to wait until after the holidays to get started but hopefully its the step in the right direction.

Mori