Three “C’s”

When inviting people to join a team, there are always many factors. Last Fall, we began to prayerfully consider the help we need to keep pace with the expanding work of Hope Haven Rwanda. As stewards of the ministry that God has entrusted us with, we knew we needed to choose the next team member very carefully.

Nearly 20 years ago, I was part of a post-grad class that informed my view on finding excellent team members. We learned that many have identified three “C’s” that are important to consider when hiring. Here they are: Character, Competency, and Chemistry.

Just prior to the pandemic, God led us to bring Wendy Raffaeli on the team. During the past few months of this unique season, she has delivered so much value. We can’t wait to see how God uses her in the years to come! As a long-time part of our Hope Haven Rwanda family, and a broadly-experienced CPA and executive, Wendy has skill sets and experience levels that have already boosted our organization to a new level.

With the competencies and chemistry she possesses, Wendy is a perfect fit. But more importantly, her character is what attracted us to her. If you don’t know her yet, you will get a glimpse of her heart for God and others in the video clip.

I love it when Wendy says, “We don’t get to choose where we’re born, we were born into America. And it’s our responsibility, and our privilege and honor, to be able to take care of those who don’t have the resources that we have.”

As she notes, in Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells a powerful story about a day when we will all stand before God. He says, “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” 

I think we all want to be on the right side of that assessment. What a joy it will be to see how our lives were used to serve others when we walked closely with Him. 

Trust me, there will be a lot of choices that I have made in my life that I will be ashamed of on that day.

I can’t change those choices now. 

However, I can choose to live by faith today—and every day of the rest of my life—walking step-by-step with Jesus. I want the remaining days of my life to be about His plans for me. I want to invest in things that matter to Him.

He is my Judge, my Lord, and my King. 

By God’s grace and with His help, let’s keep working on the three “C’s.” Let’s continue developing skills (competencies), digging into healthy relationships (chemistry), and most importantly, becoming people of integrity and faithfulness (character).