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President
Lenawee Christian Ministries

An open position
Adrian, Michigan

We have asked you to visit this site to review the Opportunity Profile for the position of President - Lenawee Christian Ministries. We believe that this could be an ideal position for someone who is currently serving as an XP, but in his/her heart of hearts would like the chance to have bottom line responsibility for running a high impact ministry.

If that resonates with your heart, we invite you to prayerfully review the Opportunity Profile and contact us for further dialogue.

If, after you have prayerfully reviewed the Opportunity Profile, you have questions, please call Tommy Thomas (615) 463-2800.

This Section Contains:

Opportunity Profile

History/Overview

Orville Merillat was born in 1916 on a farm in Ohio, one of 13 children. He left school in the ninth grade to help support the family during the Depression, and at the age of 19 got a job with a contractor as a carpenter. He enjoyed working with wood and learned all types of woodworking, including building kitchen cabinets.

He married Ruth Meller before shipping off to the South Pacific as a Coast Guard ship's carpenter in World War II. Ruth worked during the war years at the Air Force bomber plant in Adrian.

After the war the couple took their savings of $8,250 and built a cabinet shop, opening September 2, 1946, as Merillat Woodworking Company with a payroll of three - including themselves. With the business acumen of his wife, Ruth, and Orville's fine carpenter skills, they turned a one-man woodworking shop into a nationally known cabinet manufacturing firm that became the leader in the industry.

A variety of circumstances contributed to the prosperity and success of their business venture, but above all else, their faith in God and obedience to His leading in their lives was the key attribute. The more God blessed them, the more financially prepared and able they were to bless others.

In 1985, the Merillats sold the company to Masco Corporation and used the proceeds from the sale to establish the Merillat Foundation which was primarily their family foundation governed by a local family-oriented Board. The Merillat family had long been involved in area philanthropy. Some of the top donations the Merillat Foundation has made in Adrian include The Merillat Sports and Fitness Center at Adrian College,several buildings at Siena Heights University including a new fitness facility and new surgery suites for Bixby Hospital. They have also made significant contributions to Camp Michindoh, a premier Christian Camp and Conference Centre located in Hillsdale, Michigan.

Their generosity has not been limited to the Adrian area. Domestically the Foundation has supported Focus on the Family, Huntington University, Moody Bible Institute and the Willow Creek Association. They have funded several otherprojects around the world including a new obstetrics ward at Narsapur Hospital in India.

The establishment of the Merillat Foundation further established their commitment to the people of Adrian and Lenawee County. Probably the strongest evidence of the Merillat Family's commitment to the area is Lenawee Christian School and the Lenawee Christian Family Centre.

For further information, visit www.lcshome.org and www.christianfamilycentre.org. To learn more about Orville and Ruth Merillat and their life and work, use Google.

Lenawee Christian Ministries Today

Recently the Merillat Foundation was renamed as Lenawee Christian Ministries (LCM) and restructured to bring more professional and non-family leadership to the Board to prepare the ministry for future growth.

The members of the Board are:

LCM is working to clarify its vision and to create a different image for itself in the community. In light of a strategic planning initiative coupled with the results of an extensive survey (Analysis of Market Perceptions and Opportunities) that was conducted by Longmire and Company, the Board of LCM has begun work on clarifying a new vision for the organization.

The Opportunity

An integral part of this new vision it to hire a President who will bring new energy and excitement about the future. To be the President of LCM will be an incredible opportunity for:

Lenawee Christian Ministries

The Board envisions LCM operating in three specific areas.

Lenawee Christian School

Lenawee Christian School traces its origin back to 1976, when a meeting at the Trenton Hills United Brethren Church led to a decision to start a Christian school. Orville and Ruth Merillat offered to make a building possible and assured operating funds for the first year of operation. In 1977 Trenton Hills Christian School opened with 17 students in kindergarten through third grade, two teachers, and an administrator. A grade was added each year after the school opened, and by 1984 classes extended through eighth grade. In February 1985 plans began for a Christian high school which would start in the fall. The responses were incredible with growth up to 450 students - the school was bursting at the seams.

In 1985 the Merillat family purchased 75 acres at the intersection of Wolf Creek Highway and U. S. 223. An 110,000 square foot non-denominational Christian school was completed, renamed and dedicated in 1987. In 1987 this facility received the Award for Excellence in Masonry Design from the Masonry Institute of Northwestern Ohio and the Toledo Chapter - A. I. A.

The curriculum is a comprehensive, college preparatory program that integrates biblical truth in all areas of education. Lenawee Christian School is accredited by the State of Michigan, the Association of Christian Schools International, and the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and was the first unit school in the state of Michigan to gain accreditation from the North Central Association.

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Lenawee Christian School currently has 600 students enrolled and 45 faculty members, and together the student body and faculty represent more than 100 churches. The academic performance of the students compares favorably with other schools in all areas. By 9th grade, Lenawee Christian School students perform 50% ahead of Lenawee County public schools based on Stanford Achievement exams. At local public schools, 31% to 55% of graduates pass all four sections of the MEAP (Michigan Educational Assessment Program, while Lenawee Christian School students consistently score in the 80% to 90% range. Lenawee Christian School students also dramatically outperform other Christian school students on standardized exams (37% higher than the national Christian school average). Lenawee Christian School graduates have been awarded an aggregate of $565,000 in MEAP college scholarship money in the five years these funds have been available.

In any given year, about 95% of Lenawee Christian School graduates move on to higher education. The 2005 Lenawee Christian School graduating class' average ACT score was 23.5 compared to the state average of about 21, and the 2005 average SAT score exceeded 1,200 compared to the national average of about 1,100.

Not surprising, the Lenawee Christian School curriculum is also superior. Lenawee Christian School offers as many as nine Advanced Placement courses (up to six in a given year), while some local high schools offer as few as one course a year. Bible is taught as an academic subject as well as with an emphasis on the truth of Scripture for the purpose of spiritual formation and Christian living. In addition to high quality academic programs, Lenawee Christian School offers specialized teachers for Art, Music, Physical Education, and Computer. Foreign language instruction begins with Kindergarten; Latin, Spanish, and German are available at the elementary level, and Spanish and German are offered at the secondary level.

Lenawee Christian School regularly competes successfully against B and C class schools, and in some sports against A level schools, even though it is a Class D school. Lenawee Christian School won the Michigan Class D Volleyball State Championship in 2003 and 2004. In recent years Lenawee Christian School basketball and soccer teams have won District championships and progressed to Regional or Quarter finals.

Christian Family Centre

No sooner than work was completed on the school, ground was broken next door for the Christian Family Centre, a 100,000 square foot non-denominational multi-purpose facility which would be a ministry to area individuals, families and churches.

It was a dream of Orville Merillat to have a place for families to play together. He had seen the negative impact of kids hanging out on the streets with nothing to do.

The Christian Family Centre was designed specifically to encourage strong family development through a wide range of social and spiritual activities for all age groups. A guiding principle of the Merillats was to provide and promote a Biblically centered quality of life through pro-family activities in a Christ-centered atmosphere. The Christian Family Centre is committed to providing a stimulative and supportive environment to encourage Christian family development mentally, physically, socially and spiritually.

The facility contains:

The Christian Family Centre offers programs for all ages including recreational and bowling leagues, swimming lessons, adult education classes, seminars, concerts and a video rental library. In addition, the Christian Family Centre offers specific ministry-oriented events such as dinners for senior citizens with a special speaker and "lock-ins" for teens which kids from as far as 100 miles away attend.

The facility's full-service kitchen and large dining room are available to rent for private family functions, church banquets and civic club meetings.

Adrian, Michigan, and Lenawee County

Adrian, county seat of Lenawee County, is centrally located at the junction of US-223 and M-52, about 10 miles north of the Ohio state line. It has a broad economic base, supported by industries such as auto-parts manufacturing, plastics, aluminum and brass forging, as well as furniture production, health care and office products. It is also the home of Adrian and Siena Heights Colleges.

The downtown area has retained much of its historic architecture, giving it a distinct turn-of-the-century look. Near the downtown area are the former Adrian Library which is now a museum and two city parks.

The Position

The President will serve as the senior executive, having and exercising overall leadership for LCM. The President reports to the Board of Directors.

In its most elementary form, the role of the President of LCM is threefold:

This can most effectively be accomplished by:

If you look at the ministry from a "20,000 foot" perspective, the role of President of LCM is to give leadership to a ministry that wants to be a significant part of changing the hearts and lives of the people of Adrian, Michigan, and the surrounding counties through a holistic living of the Gospel among the people. This should dovetail with the Board's goal for LCM to "Welcome 40,000 Families into our Home by 2015.'

Currently the President's direct reports are:

Desired Background

We don't want to put too many constraints on the background of the successful candidate, but there are a few competencies that we believe are mandatory.

The next president of LCM must be energized to capture the potential that the organization holds for impact in its communities. A marketing mind and heart to see the vision of LCM as the key resource in Adrian and its surroundings are critical. The right President will provide both energy and strategy to fulfill the Merillat's vision and to translate the vision into reality, practical plans and programs. Strengthening the reputation of the Centre and School as open and inviting will be essential.

Relationship building on many levels will need to be in the gift mix of the next President. The City of Adrian and Lenawee County hold opportunity for establishing partnerships and collaborations. The flexibility of LCM to adapt, the desire of the Board and a strong management team and staff are assets that can be leveraged to build bridges and find common ground.

While a strong external orientation is key, the next President must also have a commitment and a demonstrated ability to build and lead a team of people, achieving results through collaborative, participative management. The team holds untapped potential for creativity, energy and local knowledge that can be blended into an expansive strategy externally and operating and financial effectiveness internally. A general management perspective that can pull the pieces together for results will be welcomed by staff and Board.

The President of LCM must love people and feel the needs of the people. S/he must have a ministry heart and mindset, understanding how to help people.

Attributes of the Desired Candidate

Christian Commitment

A commitment to Christ is at the center of the mission of LCM. Candidates should have personal warmth that invites trust, and possess a personal integrity that never forfeits the trust that is offered. S/he should be a spiritually maturing Christian who is authentic in the journey with Christ, and able to minister to a wide range of constituents. It is expected that the person chosen will be currently active in the ministry of his/her local church.

Commitment to the Local Church

It is critical that the President of LCM be committed to the local church. Healthy relationships with the churches in Adrian and Lenawee County are critical to LCM's ability to make an impact throughout the area.

Collaborative Visionary

We are looking for someone who can "see what can be" and through listening and dialoguing with others, set the direction and plot a strategy to reach the goal.

Community Involvement

The ideal candidate will be someone who truly enjoys and is energized by full participation in the community. The President of LCM will be expected to be an active member of one of the local civic clubs. The ideal candidate will be someone who genuinely loves people and wants to be out among the people on a regular basis.

Business Acumen

We are looking for someone with broad organizational experience, especially in marketing/sales, including establishing vision, developing strategies, and executing the plans that achieve mission and financial objectives.

Understands Parents and Schools

The President must have an intimate understanding of parenting and the realities of educating children with a Christian world view in a Christian school environment. This includes a personal understanding of the culture and its impact on families and children.

Engaging Relational Leader

The successful candidate must be able to develop relationships at all levels. Building and in some cases re-building relationships with pastors and leaders of government, business and the civic community are critical to success in this position. The President should enjoy meeting people in both professional and social settings.

Emphasis on Customer Service

Regardless of the product, today's consumer is becoming more sophisticated and more demanding. The next President of LCM must understand the customer base of both Lenawee Christian School and the Christian Community Centre and place a very high emphasis upon cultivating a culture of excellence in customer service.

Change Agent with Respect to a Brand

We are looking for someone who has demonstrated success in a turnaround situation; someone with proven ability to be a change agent with respect to a strong brand. This will be accomplished by sharpening the ministry's distinctives and refining its "value proposition" to the community; thus unleashing the worth that LCM has to offer.

Where is This Person Today?

The following list is meant more to trigger one's imagination than it is to draw a tight circle around occupations that the next President of LCM might have had.

Successful Business Executive

We live in a time when many business men and women have made their mark on corporate America at a relatively young age and in the words of Bob Buford, are in "HalfTime." These people want to take the wealth of experience they have gained in the private sector and ply it in a non-profit or ministry leadership position. The President of LCM could be ideal for someone like that.

Executive Pastor

No doubt there are many Executive Pastors who have significant senior leadership ability and feel called to a top leadership position, but do not believe they are called to minister to people through weekly pulpit preaching and teaching.

High Impact Parachurch Leader

From this group, a successful candidate may have led in ministries such as YoungLife, Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity, Campus Outreach, etc. This person is a visionary who has been able to build a team that has had a high degree of impact on their campus or in their community.

Leadership-Oriented Pastor

We know there are senior pastors who have built churches that have had very significant impacts on their communities. We also know that some of these men and women still have the desire to impact their community for Christ, but have grown weary of sermon preparation and some other elements that come with the position of senior pastor. The President of LCM could be a great next step for this person.

Successful Non-Profit Leader

Someone who had led the YMCA, Boys Clubs/Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts of America or another similar organization may qualify for this position.

Proactive and Progressive Educator

Leading LCM into the future could be a great opportunity for an educator (elementary, secondary or higher education) who has demonstrated his/her ability to build a school that is financially stable and is making an indelible impact on the community in which it is located.

Camping Executive or Christian Sports Ministry Executive

Several camps around the United States have a reputation for giving a camper a life-changing camp experience. The same can be said for some of the Christian sports ministries. Someone who has been the leader of or a strategic team member of one of these organizations might be ready to achieve at the community level what they did at the organization level.

Resume Submission

When formulating your resume for this position, please include the following information for each position you have held in the past ten years:

Over the years, we have found that one can learn only so much from the resume. In order to give us a more complete picture of you and your interest in LCM, please provide thoughtful (no more than one page) responses to each of the following questions:

  1. Describe your Christian faith. Share a bit of your family upbringing, how you came to faith in Christ, anything you would define as discipleship or spiritual formation, etc.
  2. What is it about the mission and vision of LCM that attracts you to this position?
  3. Tell us about your involvement in the local church (e.g., Deacon or Elder, Sunday School Teacher, Small Group Leader, Missions Committee, etc.) In particular we are interested in your passion for and involvement in activities that have a community outreach component.
  4. Tell us about your community involvement (i.e. membership in civic organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis, Civitan, etc.; involvement in school organizations such as PTA or PTO, Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters, etc.; involvement in local government in roles such as Member of City Council, County Commissioner, etc.).
  5. Describe your fundraising experience (if any). Where have you been most successful?
  6. Looking back over your career, and using this document as your guide, share with us a bit of how your career experiences to date have prepared you to be the President of LCM.
  7. If you are coming from a HalfTime perspective, share with us a bit about your decision-making process; something of your calling to this type of ministry, etc.

(You may find it helpful to combine your responses to questions 6 & 7. If this is the case, feel free to write a 1-2 page response.)

References

Provide as many of the following references as possible:

Submit (in WORD or .doc format) these responses.

Contact Information

People Management

Please E-mail attachments in Word or .doc format.

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