At Baptist Search Partners, we orient our partnership and search process around 7 Cs. They are:
1. Conversion
2. Calling
3. Character
4. Competence
5. Culture
6. Chemistry
7. Confirmation of the Holy Spirit

Baptist theology is a conversionistic theology. It’s black and white. Someone is either in the kingdom or out of it. You either have an eternity of life or one of death. And the difference is repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

For every search I have done, this is probably the easiest to talk about. It’s just natural to start your story with what the Lord has done for you. The best interviews for kingdom roles begin with prayer and then lead into one’s story. I typically ask them to share the 5-7-minute story of their growing up years, including how they received Christ.

As I hear their stories, I listen for several things:

1. How old were they, and what were the circumstances surrounding their salvation? Are they a relatively new believer, or have they been one for a long time? This gives you some insight about how they will share the gospel with others.
2. Who was instrumental in their salvation? Are those people still in their life? Perhaps those people turn into references.
3. How did their salvation impact their life? How do they talk about their sin, Jesus, and their new life in Christ? This gives you a sense of their current spiritual maturity and engagement as a disciple.

Don’t just assume someone is a follower of Jesus Christ. Most likely they are…especially if they are applying for a ministry role. But when we hear the story, we often learn there is more to the story.