Career Path Planning

We recently completed a five-week Career Path Planning Workshop with 62 staff from 24 countries registered. Our objectives were to help staff walk through the Career Path Planning process for themselves, learn to guide others through it, and help create a culture in our movements of seeking the Lord’s continued leading in our lives. I want to summarize what we learned in the Career Path Planning Workshop for those who missed it.

We borrow the term Career Path Planning from the corporate world. However, with our unique position as full-time Christian workers in a missionary organization, our foundational understanding of career path planning differs quite a bit from the secular model. For us, it is not just an intellectual exercise but a spiritual exercise of listening to God’s leading and walking in humble obedience to Him! It is following Jesus’ steps and being sensitive to know and follow God’s wonderful plan for our lives.

We learned how to use a simple Career Pathway Map that can be easily adapted, used, shared, and translated for use in every country. The process consists of three steps:

1. Know your God-given design, desires, and calling (assessing how God has uniquely made you, called you, and built into your life for His service).

2. Discern your best contribution as you seek to serve Him, and explore possible ministry options.

3. Plan action steps for continued growth and development (both in your current and possible future ministry roles).

We also considered how to help others through the process and how to develop a Career Path Planning System to help create a national culture of seeking God’s continued leading. We want to be known as a ministry and a people continually seeking our Lord and following His leading. It was encouraging that most participants shared action points that included helping others (staff, volunteers, disciples, ministry partners, etc.) work through the Career Path Planning Process.

The materials and tools for the Career Path Planning Process are available at ldhr.org/care/career-pathways/. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us at LDHR Llama.

Please share in the comments how you have used the Career Path Planning Process (including any successes or difficulties you have experienced implementing it).