“There are no strangers in this room,” said Paula Bryan, Coordinator of JobSeekers, as she looked out to the audience of over 240 crisply dressed men and women. Bryan instructed them to turn to each other and take a moment to introduce themselves to someone they didn’t know. Just like that, this crowded room of professionals, who are currently unemployed, began to network—the backbone of the success of JobSeekers, Colonial’s ministry to the unemployed.  “We are big on relationships here,” said Paula. “The number one rule of networking is, ‘it’s not about me,’ but ‘how can I help you?’”  

Help can be found the moment you walk into the JobSeekers gathering bright and early on a Monday morning. As you are greeted at the welcome desk by the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, energetic volunteers, like Carol Linden, are quick to introduce themselves.  Carol is a Performance Development Consultant, who is also seeking employment. Professionals are given a nametag and a chance to sign up for workshops designed to continually equip them in their job search. “Every week we have a workshop for interviewing skills. Every week we have classes about Linked-In—the professional networking site. All free,” said Carol. “Eighty-seven percent of jobs come from networking. A week doesn’t go by that I don’t get emails about job leads. If I can’t use it, I pass it on and so on.”

Founded nearly ten years ago by Colonial’s Care Ministries, JobSeekers was created to minister to and encourage the unemployed from a Biblical perspective—focusing on God’s sovereignty and faithfulness during a difficult time. “God is looking for faith, conviction and perseverance,” said Don Sandburg, Pastor of Adult Ministries and the pastor who provided the devotion Monday, November 9. “Lord we look to you with no other place to go.”

While there are other places to go for this type of networking, Colonial’s JobSeekers seems to be the largest of its kind, encouraging as many as 300 professionals on any given Monday. “This is the mother ship of networking among church groups,” said Jim Kristof, a software manager unemployed since April. “I have met so many well qualified, well educated people that I don’t feel alone. I enjoy the encouragement, camaraderie and empathy.” Jim recently went on a second interview and is hopeful for the future. “I don’t feel discouraged by virtue of hearing others’ stories of struggles as to how long it has taken them to find something.”

From interior designers to industrial engineers, only ten percent of the professionals that come to JobSeekers also call Colonial their church home. Paula wants to increase that number. “We are definitely on the radar throughout the community as a networking group for folks to attend, but I want to get out to our church family that they need to be a part of this also.”

Rarely advertised, JobSeekers has grown almost entirely by word-of-mouth. “I heard about it from a guy I use to work with” or “I heard about JobSeekers from my daughter’s friend’s father,” are some of the common opening statements of newcomers. With new faces attending every week, Bryan feels there is a unique opportunity to reach out with the most important networking message of all: “It’s not what you know, but Who.” “God is in control. We want everyone here to be plugged in to Him.”

For more information about JobSeekers or to volunteer, visit www.colonial.org/jobseekers. Employers can send job leads to: Paula Bryan.