ABOUT JOETRAN316 MINISTRIES

Board Director: Cristine Bakke

Why Do You Want To Help Lead This Ministry?

Most people would describe me as attentive to details, but I don’t think that accurately describes my perspective. I see and acknowledge details, but use them to form big picture ideas while still maintaining every facet of each minute particle. This is something I see as vitally important to non-profits. Because while the mission of a board needs to be focused on the people we reach, there are whole other worlds of ethics, liability, and legal responsibilities to consider. I believe I can help the board balance all these facets to make a healthy organization. I also have a unique background that doesn’t quite fit the mold of most US based non-profits. I have BA in intercultural studies (world missions), but one of the things my major really focused on was how to help others without causing any harm. In the mission field and in outreach it can be easy to focus on the details of a need and not see that sometimes how we fill that need actually causes more problems than it solves. I have been patiently waiting for God to lead me to a place where I can use this training in a real way and I’m hoping that this is an opportunity where I can employ some of it.

What Is Your Experience With Volunteering & Working With Non-Profits? I’ve been a volunteer Five Star Life since 2011, we focus on leading middle schoolers to their highest potential and encouraging their walk with God. Being a part of this organization for such a long time I have been able to see and sometimes be a part of the innerworkings of how a non-profit operates; helping decide what resources are allocated where, and how to best make use of time. Most of my work history has been for non-profits; I refuse to work for a place if their vision does not match my own. But my roles have usually been on the lower end of an organization’s hierarchy because I prefer to spend the bulk of my time directly with people. So this opportunity is something I’ve been wanting to be a part of for a while, the ability to take on more responsibilities while still maintaining a frontline relationship with the people we are serving.

What Do You Believe Is God's Purpose For Your Life? I believe first and foremost my main purpose while on this earth is to worship God. We are beings created to first worship and honor our creator. I’ll try to be as specific as possible but I kind of take on a laissez faire position when it comes to “purpose”. I believe that God created me with a set of passions and qualities unique to me, and that His main desire is that I use them to honor Him and love His people. While God does call us to specific paths at times, and as obedient children we are to take those paths, I’m not sure that God has put a specific cause to devote my life’s work to, at least not yet. So until God calls me differently, I live my life by Micah 6:8, “what does the LORD require of us? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.” That being said though, this is why I decided to respond to your post. It’s not often that I get a strong sense from God to act upon something right away. But as soon as I read your post, the still small voice in my head said, “you should do that.” So here I am.