MELODY ROSE SMITH

I got in touch with Churches in the Mid-West who had no pastor and were open to pulpit supply. Most of these settings were PCUSA but some were DoC, and interdenominational. I enjoyed the diversity and if they ask me to come back I will if I am open. We traveled in our horse and buggy(camper) and enjoyed the solitude especially when traveling. It was an enjoyable time but we do not have our camper at this time.

• Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
• I worked at Belleville first for six months and then the Interim Director recommended me for North Platte. This was a situation where I had personal items stolen and the board would not help me to rectify the situation. I was there until a new minister was called.
• Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
• Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
• Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Worked flexible hours across night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
• Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
• Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.

I had two office, and juggled my days in serving in these daily, one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. This was a situation of Churches without settled pastors, and they pretty much were able to use pulpit supply and elders. The one was terrific and the other was hard to work with, since they were used to doing things on their own. I left after a trying board meeting, with the Billingsville group. This entailed my not being able to take days off(which I verily ever did), but also, I traveled to several communities for pastoral care in nursing homes and homes of shut-ins(which was not done by the interim or the pulpit supply ministers), and they expected me to tell them each time and each place I had been and that if I had a day off, I had to tell them where I was and what I was doing. I tried to talk to them, that we all need time off to refresh, and they would not have anything to do with that. It was something that I thought I'd never have to do. I always reported my schedule of visits on the board meeting print outs. I resigned later that day.

• Fostered supportive and inclusive church environment, welcoming members from diverse backgrounds.
• Strengthened community outreach programs by collaborating with local organizations to provide support for underserved populations.
• Provided compassionate counseling services for individuals dealing with personal crises or seeking spiritual guidance.
• Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
• Cultivated culture of open communication and feedback among church staff and congregation.
• Provided spiritual care through visitation, counseling, and prayer.
• Interacted with local community, building relationships with civic organizations and other churches.
• Led programs such as worship, study, fellowship, and service opportunities.

• Developed volunteer training program to increase efficiency and impact of charitable efforts.
• Supervised church staff and volunteers, fostering a collaborative environment that encouraged teamwork and commitment to shared goals.
• Organized and coordinated special events such as guest speaker series or holiday celebrations to foster unity among congregation members.
• Provided compassionate counseling services for individuals dealing with personal crises or seeking spiritual guidance.
• Fostered a welcoming atmosphere within the church, leading to increased attendance and active participation in worship services.
• Enhanced congregation engagement by delivering thought-provoking sermons and incorporating multimedia presentations.
• Led small group Bible studies to promote deeper understanding of scriptural texts and foster spiritual growth among attendees.
• Planned and conducted worship services, wrote sermons, and worked with key church leaders to carry out church mission.
• Cultivated culture of open communication and feedback among church staff and congregation.

I filled in after their minister left for another church in MO. I participated in as much as they asked me to in activities. I enjoyed the diversity of the denominations. This was done following our service at the FCC of Lakin, KS just a block away.

• Started Bible Studies and fellowship within the Church and then took them out into the community.
• Worked throughout the ecumenical environment and served in multi layers of this work with them.
• Initiated interfaith dialogue events, promoting understanding and cooperation among diverse religious groups within the community.
• I was a rotating chaplain for the health community being on call one week at a time.