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Dear Carmel Family: On behalf of the Elders and Personnel Committee, we are excited to share our unanimous recommendation of Ryan Jackson as the next Student Pastor of Carmel Baptist Church. This six-month search was done in partnership with The Shepherd’s Staff, a search firm that specializes in helping connect pastors to ministries. We hope this letter helps give you clarity and background as to why Ryan is being recommended for this role. When we engaged The Shepherd’s Staff, we gave them a job description and a profile of who we were looking for. They used the criteria to begin a nationwide search from their database of over 3,314 student pastors. Here are the statistics as the search was narrowed: -

86 candidates engaged in the process from 16 states 6 candidate phone interviews with Chip Bradford (Personnel Committee Chair) and Patrick McCrory (Generations Pastor) 4 candidate video interviews with committee members Kelley Burch, Tom Powell, and Chip Bradford as well as Leslie Sheffield (Human Resources Administrator), and Patrick McCrory 2 face-to-face interviews with entire Personnel Committee, Leslie Sheffield, Jay Hancock (Executive Pastor), and Patrick McCrory 1 face-to-face interview with the Elders.

Ryan was one of the candidates that went through the process and was vetted by The Shepherd’s Staff. As the search moved forward, Ryan was seen as more and more of a front runner for the position. This was due to his character, his competency, and his chemistry with the Carmel team. The search firm was very impressed with Ryan as they got to know him. They shared early on in the process that Ryan very well could be our candidate, but that we should follow the process all the way through, which we did. Ryan knows and loves Carmel, and has a passion for Student Ministry. He embraces the mission of our church, and wants to do anything he can to help propel that mission forward as he shepherds the next generation to be disciples. He has a humble confidence that the Lord is calling him to this work, and understands that he cannot do any of it in his own strength. Ryan loves God’s Word and he allows the Word to shape him as a Christ-follower, a leader, a husband, and a father.

Ryan loves students and is committed to the Student Ministry. He does not see this as a stepping stone to another ministry in the future. He values relationships and has a teachable spirit. He understands the challenges that lie ahead for students and wants desperately to partner with parents and the other generational ministries of our church to equip them to live abundantly for Christ. He understands that there is a lot of room for growth in the Student Ministry, and he is committed to leading that change. He values his volunteer leadership and wants to “equip the saints for the work of the ministry.” Ryan’s early path led him to bi-vocational ministry as a high school teacher and a student pastor. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Education, and a Master of Science in Education Media Design and Technology. These degrees have served him well in both the classroom and in ministry. Due to this beginning journey, Ryan does not have a seminary degree. He is open to pursuing a seminary education at a later date. Ryan understands that continuing education is critical for growth, and he is committed to taking classes, going to seminars and conferences, and gaining insight from mentors. Ryan desires a cohesive ministry model that helps lead families all the way down a path from birth through graduation. He has innovative ideas and always brings great insight to the Generations Team’s meetings. Ryan believes in a team approach, and he truly desires to build a dynamic leadership team that will help own the strategy of making disciples of the next generation. At a Special Called Business Meeting on Wednesday, December 16, at 6:15pm in the Worship Center, the Elders and Personnel Committee will recommend that Rev. Ryan Jackson be called to serve as Student Pastor. Blessings, Personnel Committee: Chip Bradford, Chair Kelley Burch Victor Ferrari Bill Hurst Allan Neal Tom Powell Karen Sheats Mary Lou Wilmot Patrick McCrory, Liaison to Search Team Jay Hancock, Staff Liaison Leslie Sheffield, Support Liaison

Elders: Alex Kennedy Clay Barnes Chad Bryant Kermit Erickson Jay Hancock Jim Hughes Kevin Hurst Calvin James Rob Kelly Lem LeRoy

Patrick McCrory Jerry Moore Andy Tarr Don Spain Tim Wishon