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Assessment and Temperament Profiles

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Matthew Stephens

Visionary Leader and Skilled Communicator

Location
des plaines, IL (US)
Work Category
Other
Interests
Job opportunities, References
Currently working on...
Finishing school, seeking employment starting January 2010, preferably in metro Missouri.

About Me

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:
I've been happily married to the woman of my dreams for six years. We have a darling four-year-old daughter and newborn baby son. My wife and I grew up in Missouri, she in the city and I on the farm. We met at college and got acquainted learning guitar together. Our six years together have been a nonstop adventure: married in college, had a child before she was finished, renovated two historic homes, started a church, and moved to Chicago for seminary!

TEMPERAMENT:
I'm a fairly eccentric artist/musician type who loves a deep conversation over a warm cup of coffee or a cold slab of ice cream (frozen custard is even better!). My personality type (INTJ, the "mastermind") is the rarest there is (1%). Strangely, I relate well to lots of different types of people. I admire beauty, creativity, authenticity, quality, and purity.

VOCATIONAL PROFILE:

Management, Coordination and Interpersonal Skills
• Supervising/facilitating/teaching small and large groups
• Gathering, building, and equipping teams
• Planning, coordinating, and facilitating events, trainings, and programs
• Developing and aligning organizational mission, vision, and values
• Strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation
• Program promotion and staff recruitment
• Grant writing and administration
• One-on-one youth mentorship and counseling
• Conflict mediation and prevention
• Fundraising for non-profit organizations

Communication Skills
• Intercultural communication
• Public speaking for groups of 50-1000
• Promoting organizations, events, and initiatives through personal contacts, social media, and print publication and distribution
• Reflective journaling and blogging
• Academic level writing and editing
• Audio-Visual production
• Musical performance

Leadership Skills
• Mission- and vision-casting
• Decision-making (critical thinking, problem solving)
• Organizational analysis
• Values driven
• Initiative
• Excellence orientation

VOCATIONAL OBJECTIVE:
• To work bi-vocationally in pastoral ministry and higher education administration or human resource management, preferably in Chicagoland or Missouri (St. Louis, Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City).

Work Experience

  • Jan 2009 - Jun 2009
    wheeling, IL (US)
    Student Ministry Leader
    Calvary English Chapel
    • Preached to and led worship for 30-60 students.
    • Led small group of 7-10 students.
  • Jan 2001 - Jul 2009
    springfield, MO (US)
    Worship Leader/Guitarist/Drummer
    Various Venues
    Led musical worship for youth, college students, and congregation members (vocals, guitar, drums). Worked with worship service planning teams to develop the order and elements of the worship service. Served at the following churches:
    • Harvest Bible Chapel, Niles, Illinois (6/08 – 6/09)
    • Calvary English Chapel, Wheeling, Illinois (3/09 – 7/09)
    • The Core Fellowship, Springfield, Missouri (8/05 – 7/06)
    • First Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri (1/06 – 11/06)
    • Springhill Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri (8/02 – 7/05)
    • First Baptist Church, Bolivar, Missouri (1/01 – 12/02)
    • Miscellaneous other venues
  • Aug 2008 - Dec 2008
    rolling meadows, IL (US)
    Assistant Director of High School Ministry
    Harvest Bible Chapel
    • Developed and coordinated student assimilation and tracking system.
    • Oversaw volunteers (200 students, 45 leaders).
    • Collaborated with staff in program development and evaluation.
    • Conducted comprehensive parent-student outreach campaign.
    • Regularly and successfully recruited adult volunteers and student participants.
    • Developed, maintained, and wrote daily content for blog.
    • Counseled students individually and in small groups.
  • Aug 2005 - Nov 2006
    springfield, MO (US)
    Prevention Specialist
    Community Partnership
    • Oversaw substance abuse prevention efforts across six-county region.
    • Started, developed, and supported local community substance abuse prevention coalitions through networking, resourcing, and technical assistance.
    • Collaborated with a wide range of local, state, and national organizations (e.g., schools, social services, law enforcement, business, church, non-profits) on a variety of community betterment initiatives.
    • Innovated and conducted public awareness campaigns through a variety of media and marketing methods.
    • Wrote, edited, and submitted RFP/grant proposals and administered grants.
    • Collaboratively coordinated quarterly regional training events for 50-200 trainees.
    • Individually coordinated and led various training sessions for community leaders and retailers.
    • Conducted high-level community needs assessments, including research, analysis and synthesis of multiple data types (e.g., demographics, survey statistics).
    • Developed highly integrated strategic plans using outcome based measures and best practices.
    • Conducted periodic and ongoing evaluations for a variety of initiatives.
  • Aug 2005 - Jul 2006
    springfield, MO (US)
    Co-Founder/Pastor
    The Core Fellowship
    • Established a house church based ministry targeting unchurched urban residents.
    • Developed and led weekly Bible lessons for 8-12 adults.
    • Exercised regular pastoral care and leadership.
    • Oversaw regular outreach initiatives.
    • Developed mission, vision, and doctrinal statements, and website.
  • Jul 2001 - Jul 2006
    Missionary
    National and International
    • Traveled with Global Encounter throughout the Punjab provinces of India, working with rural and urban poor.
    • Traveled with Sports Crusaders throughout the Midwest leading week-long basketball camps among urban poor, at risk/institutionalized, and suburban youth.
    • Served a full summer at Pine Cove Family Camp in Columbus, TX as a counselor.
    Started and led a missional community in center-city Springfield, MO, focusing on those to whom the church has had difficulty reaching out and assimilating.
  • Apr 2005 - Aug 2005
    branson, MO (US)
    Caseworker
    Department of Social Services Family Support Division
    • Managed individual and family income maintenance cases.
    • Interviewed and oriented new clients.
    • Conducted extensive data collection, database management and reporting.
    • Maintained regular face-to-face, phone, and written correspondence.
    • Prioritized and multitasked in a fast-paced, high demand environment with strict deadlines.
    (Resigned to take a position much closer to home.)
  • Dec 2003 - Jan 2004
    springfield, MO (US)
    Media Intern
    Second Baptist Church
    • Shot, edited, and produced video (promotional, documentary, live performance) for a church of 3000.
    • Assisted in audio tech setup and operation.
  • Jan 1998 - May 2003
    prairie village, KS (US)
    Event Coordinator, Team Leader
    Happening Ecumenical
    • Gave talks for groups of 50-75.
    • Managed and developed teams of 12-15 volunteer staff.
    • Recruited volunteers, participants, and sponsors.
    • Facilitated small groups of 7-10 students.
    • Worked on leadership team to plan, coordinate, and facilitate weekend youth retreats.
    • Planned large parties and smaller, follow-up social gatherings.
    • Performed musically.
  • May 2000 - Jan 2001
    warsaw, MO (US)
    Engineering Aid
    U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
    Redrew hydroelectric power plant blueprints using CAD program MicroStation SE.

Education

  • 2007 - present
    Master's - Master of Divinity
    Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
    94 hours in three years!
    Three-year Kern Scholar
    3.70 GPA
  • 2000 - 2004
    Bachelor's - Communication
    Southwest Baptist University
    Courses emphasizing interpersonal, intercultural, public, and small group communication
    2004 Outstanding Senior Scholar award recipient
    President's/Dean's List - four years
    Magna Cum Laude (3.83 GPA)
  • 1996 - 2000
    High School
    Warsaw High School
    Valedictorian

Courses & Certifications

Youth Ministry Certification - Southwest Baptist University 2004
Certified Facilitator - "Strengthening Families"
Certified Facilitator - "F.A.S.T. Babies"
Certified Marriage Coach - "Prepare-Enrich"