Ministry Today

With the national unemployment rate escalating, many churches are emerging as networking hubs for job hunters. In Dallas, First Baptist Church is offering extensive help on workforce topics such as creating a standout résumé and excelling in interviews. Through programs such as Career Solutions, Career Link and Crown Financial Classes, attendees can not only improve their chances on landing future employment, but also better manage their current financial situations.

"It is the old adage, ‘Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish he'll eat for a lifetime,'" said First Baptist Church senior pastor Robert Jeffress. "And we think the most important thing the church can do to help its members who are unemployed is help them develop and hone skills that will help them land that next job."

Yet what makes the Texas megachurch-and other congregations following suit-unique in the down economy is its ability to network internally. Through its various programs, many of these churches are matching and connecting employers with potential employees within the church.

"Church groups are a good way to use existing community connections to expand your network of people," said career and business consultant Kathy Robinson. Though volunteer-run church programs can sometimes contain outdated advice for job searching, Robinson says the risk is usually worth it considering the array of industries typically represented within a church. "As long as the members are keeping themselves current on job search techniques it's actually a fabulous resource." [cnnmoney.com, 2/26/09; christianpost.com, 2/27/09]