--- title: Why Don't You Visit? description: Technology has come a long way, and what we have found is that virtual works! image: https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20No%20Text%20700x500100-12.png --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/why-dont-you-visit#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) # Why Don't You Visit? Technology has come a long way, and what we have found is that virtual works! ![](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hubfs/Blog%20Header%20No%20Text%20700x500100-12.png) # Why Chemistry Does Virtual Searches When Todd and I began talking looking at how to change the way churches found pastors, we wanted to find a way to make a managed search accessible to churches of all sizes and budgets. We are convinced that the quickest way to strengthen churches in this country is to help them find staff members that will be a great fit for five years or more. We are also convinced that we needed to create a process that churches of 40 and churches of 4,000 could afford. That is why we created Chemistry’s virtual search process. When I have an initial conversation with churches, they will often ask us why we don’t include on-site visits in our process. The answer is simple: we have leveraged the technology available to us in a way that allows us to develop a deep understanding of churches and candidates without adding the expense of travel to the cost of the search (flights, rental cars, meals, conference rooms, hotels, and incidentals… costs in the several thousands above and beyond the search cost). What our churches have discovered is that our process forces them to have conversations that bring them to clarity about who they are, where they are going, and what they believe.    When a church signs on to do a search with Chemistry, we begin an in-depth onboarding process where we ask questions about the history of the church, their wins, their struggles, where they have been, and where they are going. We use this information to develop a profile of the church that paints an accurate picture of the church, warts and all. Our goal with this exercise is to limit the number of times that someone sits alone in their office, six months into a new job, thinking “I wish I knew that before I said ‘yes.’” We next take the church through a series of assessments similar to those taken by candidates. This allows us to develop an understanding of a church's theological leanings, the culture of the church, and how the team is wired. Once the onboarding work is completed, we then bring together Chemistry’s search team and the members of the church’s search team to walk through the results of the onboarding process together. These conversations allow us to drill down deeply into who the church is and identify what is true about the person who will be the right fit in that church.    Our churches have described our process as being rigorous, clarifying, and intense. Several of our churches have shared that the work that they have done with us has left them feeling that we have a better understanding of who they are than other firms that they have worked with in the past, and has allowed us to find the right candidates more quickly than previous searches.    I have heard it said that *“if virtual worked, Jesus would have Skyped in.”* Fifteen years ago, this was true. Technology has come a long way since then and what we have found is that virtual works, and it allows our churches to find the best fit, in the shortest amount of time, at a cost that is accessible to all churches.    [Interested in seeing if Chemistry’s virtual search is right for you? Let’s talk!](https://meetings.hubspot.com/matt-steen)   ![matt](https://blog.chemistrystaffing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/matt.png?width=124&name=matt.png)   [![Schedule A Free Consultation](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/5045578/b77ee3a2-d157-494b-a4fc-d4c3b22d6364) ### [![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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