Human Resource Management

We have a brand new department at the Mission. Well, I suppose it's not new, but let's put it this way: I don't have to do it anymore! Melanie has done a lot of different jobs over the past five years or so...

Live-In Women's Home Caretaker
Rescue College Intern
Cook
Women's Resident Manager
LifeChange Program Manager

and now, after a brief hiatus... oh, doing what, you ask? Let's see here... getting married, going to Costa Rica, building a church in Bolivia, cutting coffee out of her diet... WHAT??

What a year to cut coffee out! The best coffees come from Costa Rica and Bolivia, as far as I'm concerned! In fact, this picture was drawn in her honour! Well, those were the olden days. Melanie has been brought back to life as our first HR Manager!

Our Human Resource department, however, is definately not your "normal" HR. Being a group of missionaries means we have a different focus, no matter what we do! Sure, we have strategic plans, goals, and dreams, like everyone else. But to reach our goals, we follow a very different path.

We meet daily for prayer and a short devotional thought from the Bible. We meet weekly for a staff Bible study. Many of us worship together on Sundays. We have "themes" to focus on. Right now, our theme is JOY, and so, we celebrate JOY with "Joy Sticker Days," and JOY Christmas ornaments, and JOY any way we can get it!

Half of our staff have overcome a life-controlling problem. Where once they may have been homeless, or digging through the garbage for a bite to eat, today they are fully functioning members of our team.

Another large portion of our staff have never had a "real" career job before. Committed to hiring young people, it means they have learned their skills "on the job."

All of us feel somewhat displaced, being a missionary in our own country. People don't understand the committment and dedication it takes, and that pull to live for the flesh. To do what the rest of our neighbours are doing and forget about that deep committment to live wholly for Jesus.

Melanie's role is to see to it that all of us misfit missionaries are cared for. Meaning, that we continue to work on our personal lives, that we continue to meet together for fellowship, that we continue to work on being not just a team, but a family. That we focus on supporting one another and being the best person we can be, not only when we are at the Mission, but during our off-times as well.

Working at the Mission means a whole new attitude. And one that isn't commen in North America. It means opening up to each other, being trustworthy, embracing change and not being cliquish or isolationist.

And such is the task of the Souls Harbour RESCUE Mission Human Resource Manager. Forget payroll, benefits and the like. Enter attitude, teamwork, a love for God and each other.