Snapshot

Denomination: Non-Denominational

Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA (Remote is optional, frequent traveling) 

The Role: President

Meet HomeWord:

HomeWord, founded in 1985 by Jim Burns, exists to help families succeed and has been a powerful and influential national and international voice for nearly 40-years. Through books, HomeWord.com, HomeWord YouTube Channel, seminars, social media, and podcasts HomeWord has been on the forefront of family and marriage ministry. 

Today the landscape has changed. Culture is progressing quickly, and it’s like a magnet drawing hearts away from God. What worked in 1985 doesn’t necessarily work in 2024 and beyond. The next generation of families and marriages needs help and is searching.

Francis Schaeffer once said, “Each generation needs to recommunicate the Gospel to the understanding of the next generation.” In other words, you don’t change the Gospel, you change the way you communicate it to each new generation. This is needed in family ministry as well. 

Who will be the voice that this next generation listens to? Who will provide the biblically-based practical help that families are looking for?

HomeWord is uniquely positioned to reach this next generation of parents to change the landscape of America. 

Jim Burns and HomeWord’s Board of Directors has decided it is time to pass the baton to the next President of HomeWord so that the ministry can establish new, strong leadership to carry the vision forward to reach the swell of needs before us.

This new leader will lead our efforts to bring new forms of delivering bible-based content with multiple voices and faces. Family ministries in general have been slow to change and it’s much needed now. No doubt reaching out to the next generation of parents and marriages will bring about new and creative podcasts and blogs for the important topics of the day, while remaining committed to a Biblical foundation. 

Jim Burns will continue at HomeWord and spend his remaining years of ministry focused on writing, speaking, and investing in the next President of HomeWord. 

With HomeWord’s rich 40-year history of ministry to build upon and a deep reservoir of ministry resources to cultivate, the new President of HomeWord will be well positioned to re-envision HomeWord to meet the exciting and challenging needs of today’s families.

About the President:

HomeWord’s opportunities are not in short supply. After several years where the economy has been shaky, HomeWord is now emerging into the “scale stage” and needs leadership to take the organization to the next level of growth and maturity. 

HomeWord is funded primarily through the gifts of major donors and resource sales. Critical to HomeWord’s path forward is a leader who can articulate the mission of the ministry and raise capital for expansion. This new president will also have the opportunity to investigate, evaluate and develop other possible income streams to enhance the mission.   This new leader must be willing to focus on the “next generation of parents and marriages” and help develop ways to reach them.  

Knowledge of donor development, organizational management, Christian resource sales, marketing, web/technology advancement, and utilization are the highest needs for the ministry. 

The President's Responsibilities Include: 

• Lead the vision with a deep passion to help families succeed. 

• Develop the strategy to effectively reach the next generation of parents and marriages. 

• Along with Jim Burns, develop and articulate the mission and vision of HomeWord and present it to key stakeholders and donors.

• Build goodwill with current and potential donors, inspiring them to give to the ministry. significantly expanding the donor base of HomeWord.

• Vet and secure strategic partnerships, primarily in the realm of distribution.

• Provide general leadership while delegating to the executive team day-to-day management.

• Lead the fund development of HomeWord with the help of board, staff, and development team.

• Build a healthy culture, not simply advance a mission.

• Along with Jim Burns, manage board affairs.

What You Bring: 

The following describes many of the characteristics of the ideal candidate for the President:

Education & Experience

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university (advanced degree preferred)

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Able to lead in the area of product development while creating a strategy for the creation of new content and repurposing of existing content. 

• Able to lead in the area of product marketing with all forms of media ie., print, digital, social media, etc.

• Able to lead efforts to expand product distribution channels through internet, seminars, churches, etc.

• Able to enhance and expand product fulfillment possibly through a call center, expanded warehousing assets, digital distribution etc.

• Able to help create a model of family ministry that reaches the next generation 

• Willing to travel frequently and possibly live in Southern CA to minimize that travel. 

• Experienced and gifted to implement concepts/vision into strategy, goals, and operational execution for positive results

• Experienced and gifted at managing people well, empowering them for success in an inspiring and encouraging atmosphere

• Strong written, editorial, and verbal communication skills

• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to project professional competence, leadership capability, and personal maturity

Personal Characteristics & Qualifications

• Feels called to the mission of the HomeWord

• Godly character and positive track record of success in the corporate or ministry world

• Committed to the values of HomeWord and embraces HomeWord’s culture

• Has relational chemistry with Jim Burns, Doug Fields, and the executive team

• Strategic thinker/leader

• Spiritually mature believer who is familiar with HomeWord and Jim Burns 

• Winsome, loves being around people, and inspires others to invest in HomeWord’s mission

• A strategic leader and facilitator of the vision; someone who loves to lead and gains the greatest joy from turning visions into realities as well as working together with Jim Burns and Doug Fields

• An independent, strategic thinker with good judgment, sensitivity, and common sense

• Enthusiasm, energy, and an entrepreneurial spirit

What it's Like to Live in San Juan Capistrano, CA: 

HomeWord is based in San Juan Capistrano, California. The vast majority of donors are also based in Southern California. This means that while it is strongly preferred to have the new president reside in Southern California, they could possibly live anywhere in the US provided they are willing to frequently travel to Southern California and be available to meet with Jim around his calendar of speaking engagements around the country. If you are unfamiliar with the Orange County, California, you can easily learn more about the OC online. It’s a great place to live. 

Think you're a great fit for this role? Become a candidate below.