Matching Advisors are some of the most dedicated volunteers for the Blessing and Family Ministry, and the BFM wants to ensure that they are well-taken care of.
That’s why for the past two weeks, BFM intern Sarah Brown personally called and got in touch with over 40 Matching Advisors from across the North American continent.
Brown has been a Matching Advisor herself for over two years, along with her husband, Chris. “I’m genuinely impressed by the level of dedication and the commitment to constant improvement that the Matching Advisor Coordinators demonstrate: Marjorie Buessing, John Abelseth, Anne-Marie Mylar, and John DeGoede. I know they truly care about all the matching candidates and Matching Advisors around the country,” she shares.
In the process of calling Matching Advisors, the Matching Advisor Coordinators were able to learn about why Matching Advisors come back year after year to participate in the process of supporting the matching process of candidates. Some of the top reasons for dedicating time to matching advising were creating and maintaining meaningful relationships with other Matching Advisors and candidates, the opportunity to be up to date on the latest improvements in the matching process, and the joy of serving others in facilitating a meaningful matching and blessing experience.
The Matching Advisor Coordinators also became aware of ways to improve Matching Advisors’ experiences around the country. One recurring theme was that Matching Advisors wanted more opportunities to connect with other Matching Advisors on a personal, face-to-face level, and create time to share and support one another. The Matching Advisor Coordinators are already brainstorming ideas to meet the needs of Matching Advisors, including the possibility of a retreat for Matching Advisors where they can rejuvenate themselves and renew their relationships with their peers.
Brown expresses that she had a very wonderful experience talking to volunteers who genuinely shared and opened their hearts. “I really enjoyed the real conversations and the opportunity to listen. I hope that we can continue to do real research about how efforts to support our various ministries are being received and utilized on the ground in local communities. I know the effort to reach out on a personal level can only bring genuine growth to our efforts.”
Become a Matching Advisor – Online Training
If you would like to be a Matching Advisor, or help support the Matching Advisor’s network, you can click here to take the Online Matching Advisor Training or contact matching@unification.org.
