What is the Ministry Match?
The Ministry Match (MM) is a multiple-construct tool developed to measure the elements of an individual's life that are directly related to Christian ministry. The MM was originally developed by Bob Gilliam, a church consultant, and Steve Johnson, a professional Christian vocational assessment counselor, in the early 1990's. Gilliam had previously started the church consulting ministry for Denver Seminary and was in charge of placement for the Evangelical Free Church of America. He needed tools to assess pastors and church staff. Unfortunately all available tools (DISC, MBTA, TJTA, etc) had one or more of the following problems:
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Measured only one or a few of the needed constructs. |
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Was worded for secular vocation,. not for ministry. |
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Included negative elements of constructs, so Jesus after whom we are to model, could not answer these. |
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Measured psychological pathology, not ministry issues. |
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Were not normed for church staff. |
The Ministry Match was designed with the following uniquenesses:
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It measures 7 different constructs including temperament, motivated role, leadership style, participation style, ministry gifts, ministry values and age preference. Ninety-nine elements are measured within these seven constructs. Thus, virtually every issue important to ministry is measured in one test. |
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The questions in the Professional version are worded to fit ministry settings. The wording for the Lay version is adjusted to fit lay leaders. |
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Questions measure only positive issues, those that are a part of the image and character of Christ. |
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The Professional version is normed for "staff members" in Christian churches and Christian ministries. (para-church, seminary, denominations, etc.) |
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Some constructs and elements are added that are important to ministry but not included in other tests. |
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Many elements mixed together and invisible in other tests are unbundled and explicit in the Ministry Match. |
As a result, the MM is one of the most widely used tools in America to evaluate and place persons in ministry, both for placement of professional staff in churches and organizations as well as recruitment and placement of lay leaders inside their own churches.
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