Executive Summary – President Search

Letter from the President

After an incredible journey of 41 years of ministering to marriages with my wife, Becky, the time has come to officially retire from the position of president of Bridge To Life Ministries. We are passionately praying for the person that God has chosen to move this ministry forward, advancing the Kingdom of God.

We are excited to see what God has before us as we enter the next chapter of this ministry. We have seen God’s faithfulness in so many ways over the years and we wholly trust God to lead this ministry through the formal search process for the next president.

In 1981, God placed a couple going through divorce into our lives. After divorce, God continued to work in their hearts bringing healing and remarriage. From this couple, God brought many more couples seeking healing and hope for their marriages. In 1983 we officially began Bridge To Life Ministries. We have watched in awe as God has moved to expand His Kingdom locally, across the USA, and internationally through this ministry over the years.

As we focus on the future, our vision remains intact.

Bridge To Life’s commitment and passion is to strengthen and restore marriages. We seek to accomplish this by training lay couples in local churches and equipping them for effective marriage ministry. We are committed to offering the local church resources that are biblical, practical and bring healing in couples’ relationships with God and their marriages.

The heart of the ministry of Bridge To Life is to use marriage ministry as a means of bringing individuals to Christ and to get their hearts right with God. We believe the purpose of marriage is to reflect the oneness and glory of God. Bridge To Life offers counseling and our marriage course, The Heart & Soul of a Real Marriage as the core of our outreach to marriages.

There is absolutely, without a doubt, someone whom God has been preparing to lead this ministry forward. This is God’s ministry. He has proven Himself faithful for 41 years and we believe He will be faithful in the future.

We invite everyone who has been part of, impacted, or supported our ministry to join us in prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we search for our next leader. Pray that God will give us the wisdom to discern who God has prepared for us. Please feel free to share this letter and the following job description with anyone who might have interest.

The Bridge To Life Board of Directors has identified a missionally aligned HR Consultant who will walk beside us in shepherding the search process. We are ready to receive applicants who have a passion for God and a desire to invest their life in seeing God transform lives and marriages. Please see the contact information on the President Job Description.

Because He Is Faith, Don Smith President

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Announcement of Executive Search

President, Bridge To Life Ministries

Ministry Overview

Bridge To Life Ministries (BTL) is a nonprofit organization established April 1983 in Muskegon, MI.

BTL’s primary focus is strengthening and restoring marriages by providing counseling, offering marriage classes and small groups and training churches to do marriage ministry. BTL sees marriage ministry as a means of evangelism and discipleship.

Our Mission:

Bridge To Life focuses on the needs of marriage and relational issues for the purpose of reconciling men and women to God and each other.

BTL is funded fully by contributions from individuals, churches, program fees from counseling, and classes. Bridge To Life is not affiliated with any other organization.

Position Summary

Bridge To Life Ministries is seeking our next President to carry the ministry forward. After 41 years of ministry, the founder/president of Bridge To Life will be embarking on retirement and is committed to discerning the next leader and mentoring them to success in this position of President.

The ideal candidate will be a committed believer (Statement of Faith) with a passion and calling to minister to marriages and families. When exploring BTL’s website, they will find themselves deeply aligned with the vision, mission, and values of Bridge To Life. Professionally, they will resonate with BTL programming because of their gift of teaching, deep experience in group facilitation, mentorship of individuals and success in missional shepherding.

Our prayer is to have the next President on staff by January 2025, to begin the process of being mentored and transitioned into the new President position.

The position of President reports to the Bridge To Life Ministries Board of Directors. This position is an onsite position and will work from the office located at 17194 Van Wagoner Rd, Spring Lake, MI 49456.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. BTL is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Essential Functions

Missional Leadership

• Passionately advocate and promote BTL’s mission, core values and principles.
• Demonstrated compassion for people, to see them heal and grow in their relationship with God.
• Leverage a strategic mindset with a vision for multiplication of the ministry.
• Promote BTL in ways that raise the financial budget and increase impact.
• Manage a current employee staff of 1 full time and 2 part time employees.
• Direct, lead and partner with a team of international missionaries.
• Guide and grow a group of volunteer trainers who use BTL training methods, tools and resources.

Ministry Management and Programming

• Partner with BTL Board to define and implement the strategic plan.
• Oversee and lead the implementation of goals and action plans.
• Management of the annual operating budget of around $300,000.
• Ensure sustainability and growth of foundational/core programming consisting of counseling programs, marriage programs and Couples Getaway weekends.
• Shepherd and expand the global reach of the ministry through international programs.
• Cultivate evangelism by developing and deepening church partnerships, training churches in marriage ministry and continuing education.

Stewardship and Fund Development

• Oversee all funding development efforts in coordination with the Ministries Relational Director.
• Identify alternative key strategic funding sources to strengthen financial sustainability.
• Assist in management of online communication and social media.
• Engage with faith communities, speaking to congregations, and provide marriage conferences.

Board Relations

• Effectively communicate with the Board of Directors to provide regular reports on revenue, expenditures, and ministry programs.
• Assist with the recruitment of new Board members and assist with facilitation of Board functions and meetings.

Measures of Impact

• Promoting the ministry and overseeing funding to meet the budget.
• Expand equipping couples to facilitate marriage ministry.
• Oversee the marriage and couples counseling program.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s preferred. Formal education from a Christian institution or Bible College or Seminary is ideal.
• 5+ years of experience in lay counseling or mentoring people. Licensed counselor preferred, but not required.
• 5+ years of experience in group leadership, teaching and training with successful navigation of group dynamics, preferred.
• 3+ years experience in non-profit fundraising and donor relations, preferred.

Skills and Attributes

• Willingness to be transparent and vulnerable in personal growth and marriage.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, direct and coordinate operations in the areas of ministry.
• Strong communication skills with individuals and in group settings.
• Proficiency with technology and communication tools, such as Email, PowerPoint and Zoom.

Pay and Benefits

Bridge To Life will provide a total compensation package as determined by the ministries operating budget. The total compensation package will consist of a base salary and may or may not include medical benefits as determined by the needs of the candidate. The base salary will be based on education, experience and market values in the nonprofit industry of similarly sized organizations.

Historically, BTL’s President has been an ordained minister. While ordination is not a requirement, Bridge To Life can ordain the President as a professional development benefit.

Expression of Interest

If this position is interesting to you and you would like to be considered as a candidate:

To Learn More

The following organizations align with Bridge To Life’s model of teaching and counseling:

How We Love, Malan & Kay Yerkovich, Howwelove.com Deeper Walk International, Deeperwalkinternational.org Larger Story, Larry Crabb, Largerstory.com

Allender Center, Dan Allender, Theallendercenter.org