--- title: The Story Behind Chemistry Staffing description: The dirty little secret of the church world is that the search process can be brutal. I am convinced that for most pastors, the first 6-12 months of their new pastorate is spent binding up the wounds inflicted during the search process. image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20No%20Text%20700x500100-2.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/the-story-behind-cs#main-content) [![cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp?width=342&height=95&name=cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95.webp "cropped-chemistry_logo_homepage-342x95")](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [How We Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [How We Help Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [How We Help Churches](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/church/) - [Our Team](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/team/) - [Our Mission & Strategy](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/what-we-do/) - [Churches](https://chemistrystaffing.com/church) - [Hire New Staff](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/2021-churches-new-staff-hiring/) - [Free 30-Minute Church Consult](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Chemistry Solutions – You Don’t Have to Do Ministry Alone](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/solutions/) - [Final Fit Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/final-fit-assessment/) - [Senior Pastor Succession](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/succession/) - [Job Seekers](https://chemistrystaffing.com/candidate) - [Add My Resume / Profile](https://chemistry.fyi/kwq) - [Current Openings](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [Free Resume Assessment](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/free-resume-self-assessment/) - [Step-by-Step Job Search](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/cjb) - [How Chemistry Can Help](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Resources](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate/) - [Free Playbooks & Downloads](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/) - [Chemistry Blog](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/) - [2024 Youth Pastor Compensation Survey](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/resources/2024-yp-compensation-survey/) - [Contact Us](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Candidates](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/candidate-contact-page/) - [Churches](http://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) - [Find a Job](https://chemistrystaffing.com/jobs) - [My Church is Hiring](https://www.chemistrystaffing.com/lets-talk/) [Staff Search](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/tag/staff-search) # The Story Behind Chemistry Staffing The dirty little secret of the church world is that the search process can be brutal. I am convinced that for most pastors, the first 6-12 months of their new pastorate is spent binding up the wounds inflicted during the search process. ![](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20No%20Text%20700x500100-2.png) # Why we do what we do It never fails… every time I find myself hanging out with a group of ministry friends I am asked about why we launched Chemistry. As I begin to share, it turns into another ministry war story swap session. If you have been serving in ministry for more than a few years, chances are that you have gone through a season of transition, searching for your next pastorate… and chances are, you have a few war stories of your own that you can share.  The dirty little secret of the church world is that the search process can be brutal. As I spend time speaking with leaders in transition, it is not uncommon to hear stories of frustration, heartbreak, and questions about whether they should continue the search. The common frustration was the lack of communication and clarity of the process and where they stood. This was true for me during my last search when I received a response from less than half of the churches that I submitted a resume to.  I am convinced that for most pastors, the first 6-12 months of their new pastorate is spent binding up the wounds inflicted during the search process. This hurts pastors and churches alike. This is why we launched Chemistry: to help make the search process healthier for everyone involved.  We’re convinced that churches don’t set out to make the hiring process miserable, but it happens because Sunday is always coming and most churches do this once every 3-5 years. This can make it hard to know what, when, and how to communicate. It can make it tough to know how to craft a process that fits your church, and who to talk to. We started Chemistry to walk with churches through this season, sharing what we have learned through our years of experience, and helping churches and candidates alike find the right fit.  To that end, we have created a process that is candidate-centric, giving everyone who submits a resume to Chemistry the opportunity to spend some time with one of our Candidate Coaches, even if we don’t have a position that is a good fit for them. Our process has also been created to respect the time of our candidates and make it as personal as possible. Gone is the 15-page questionnaire that probes into every aspect of the candidate’s life, theology, and ministry philosophy before a conversation ever takes place. Instead, we walk candidates through an online profile building process that takes 45 minutes to an hour and allows us to screen them for multiple positions. We encourage our coaches to learn as much about our candidates as possible and to coach them as necessary. With a team made up of pastors and church leaders who have walked this journey, we are able to develop a rapport with our candidates that many search teams are unable to achieve. This allows us to help candidates process whether a church is a good fit for them, whether this is the right time for them to pursue another position, and to discern whether they are aligned with our churches theologically, culturally, and personality-wise.  The candidate-centered approach may seem crazy when the church is the one who pays for our services, but we are convinced that this allows us to do two things: find the right long-term fit for the churches that we work with and make the process healthier for all candidates, whether they accept a role at one of our churches or not. When candidates have an ally navigating the process with them, they will start their new ministry role in a healthier place and that benefits the capital C Church.    ![matt](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/matt.png?width=124&name=matt.png)   [![Hiring this year? Let's talk!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/7303cd6a-3a25-4a75-b02d-2aef7e8f027d.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/7303cd6a-3a25-4a75-b02d-2aef7e8f027d)   ### [![Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/IMG_4588.jpg) Matt Steen](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/author/matt-steen) Matt has served the local church for over two decades as a youth pastor, church planter, and executive pastor. Originally from Baltimore, Matt currently lives in Orlando, with his wife Theresa, and has a B.S. in Youth Ministry from Nyack College and an M.Div. and MBA from Baylor University. Certified as an Urban Church Planter Coach by Redeemer City to City and as a StratOp facilitator by the Paterson Center, Matt has made a career of helping churches thrive through intentionality, clarity, and creating healthy cultures. He is convinced that a healthy church is led by a healthy team with great chemistry, and loves partnering with Chemistry’s churches to do great things for the Kingdom. [![Facebook Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/snoop4jc) [![Twitter Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/matt_steen) [![Linkedin Author](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/icons/social/linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewsteen/) ## Latest Resources Browse Articles ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_158.png) #### What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis Church decline isn't what you think. Discover what's really threatening the church today vs. 1776 and the 1900s—and why low numbers aren't ... ![What's Actually Killing Your Church? The Surprising 250-Year Diagnosis](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 07, 2026 ![Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your ](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_126.png) #### Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your "Failed" Bible Study is Actually a Discipleship Goldmine When attendance drops in your small group discipleship ministry, don't panic. Discover why smaller groups create deeper disciples and stron... ![Stop Apologizing for Small Groups: Why Your ](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/blog-images/featured/featured_142.png) #### Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees Church hiring practices may be filtering out incredible candidates. Learn why competency should trump credentials in your ministry staff se... ![Stop Screening Out Your Best Candidates: Why Competency Matters More Than Seminary Degrees](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/883a0d42581424e9bbe7c77dccfeed6b) ###### Todd Rhoades July 06, 2026 [![Elements Logo](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/8768169/Elements/Theme/logos/logo.svg "Elements Logo")](http://chemistrystaffing.com) Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecteturor adipiscing elit. Tincidunt donec vulputate ipsum erat urna auctor. 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