Jeffrey Harlan

• Oversaw administration and management of all areas of ministry.
• Enhanced congregation growth by implementing innovative outreach programs and community engagement initiatives.
• Officiated special services such as weddings, funerals and baptisms.
• Managed facility upkeep projects to ensure a welcoming environment for all who entered the church building.
• Assisted families during times of crisis by providing compassionate pastoral care, prayer support, and guidance.
• Oversaw financial management for the church, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources and budget allocation.
• Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship, and service opportunities.
• Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
• Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
• Provided pastoral care to congregation members, offering guidance, support, and counseling when needed.
• Distributed food and supplies to communities through mutual aid.
• Volunteered at church-sponsored outreach events.
• Helped to create welcoming environment for visitors and encouraged congregation to offer support.
• Created opportunities for our congregation to grow together as a true family of faith after Covid nearly closed our church.
• During the height of Covid, our congregation dwindled to less than twelve people. When I resigned, there was a thriving congregation of nearly 30.
• Other details can be provided

• In the year that I served my degree and ordination internship requirements:
• Working with my pastor to complete a pathway of ordination through the Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU).
• Assisting with various ministry areas including: participation in worship as a musician, vocalist and occasionally leading worship.
• Submitting sermon outlines on assigned passages of scripture for evaluation by the senior pastor, Rev. Lonnie Potts.
• Preaching when given the opportunity.
• Completing written assignments given by mentor.
• Working with Associate Pastor to better understand church administration.
• Assisting with church events and special occasions.
• Going on nursing home and hospital visits.
• Completing a written summary of internship experience at the end of the year.

This was a temporary position with a specific purpose. The church on the OCU campus once operated by and under the direction of the Churches of Christ in Christian Union (CCCU). When an agreement between the CCCU and OCU was reached, it then became the campus Student Chapel.

This left those families who worshipped there upset and disenfranchised. They needed a place to heal spiritually, mentally and emotionally. A fellow ordained minister and friend asked me and five other ministers to quickly establish a congregation for those who needed a bridge between the church that had been taken from them to a place where they could be integrated into other area congregations.

Together, our team helped these families and attendees be able to move on in their faith.

While the title of Maintenance Director implies that the position was simply executive in nature, it was much more as this description will detail.

Ohio Christian University at the time of my tenure as Maintenance Director consisted of:

• Two Administration buildings.
• A Church.
• Four Dormitories.
• Two townhouses totaling six units.
• Fourteen Mobile Homes used for married students or multiple adult single students.
• Three classroom buildings, one of which housed the library.
• Demolition of the old gymnasium, which was replaced by a new multi-use facility consisting of a new gym, office and conference space.
• Baseball and soccer fields
• A 50 space RV park
• An onsite water treatment plant
• As well as nearly 40 acres grounds to maintain.

Below is a description of responsibilities and actions as Maintenance Director.

• Monitored building systems and directed preventive maintenance.
• Worked frequently with mechanical and plumbing systems to complete knowledgeable inspections and skilled repairs.
• Monitored inventory levels of supplies and equipment, maintaining adequate stock to support efficient facility maintenance efforts.
• Verified building areas were working optimally and kept clean.
• Conducted thorough evaluations of staff performance, offering feedback and opportunities for professional growth within the maintenance department.
• Sourced outside contractors for special projects and oversaw bidding and selection processes.
• Procured pricing information from various vendors to support cost-effective purchasing.
• Managed efficient teams of up to 25 employees. 3-5 of those were full time technicians; the rest were student workers who required the ability to work around their schedules, as well as their extracurricular activities.
• Developed budgets for maintenance operations, monitored expenses and submitting expense reports to administration .
• Managed outsourcing contracts for specialized services when necessary.
• Communicated with contractors during new construction of dormitories, new administrative facilities and upgrades of existing and operational facilities.
• Communicated with the administration, faculty, staff and students about maintenance and repair concerns, progress of maintenance actions and follow up once repairs or improvements were made.

• Serve as local representative at annual District and General Council Meetings, providing representation for our local congregation in matters of denominational business.
• Maintained statistics to oversight committees concerning the financial stability of our local congregation.
• Participated in board meetings and assisting in coordination of operations of the local congregation.

• Leading youth between sixth and eleventh graders in strengthening their faith through teaching and activities they could relate to.
• Communicated with parents about progress and concerns.
• Communicated with church board about the direction of the youth, to discuss successes as well as challenges.

• Coordinated music and special vocals for worship services.