In this episode, Jedd Medefind digs deep with Jim Martin, Vice President for Spiritual Formation at International Justice Mission (IJM). Listen in to hear how IJM – among the most respected anti-trafficking organizations in the world – integrates practices of soul care and spiritual formation among its staff all over the world … and how you can do the same, both personally and in your organization.

In this episode, you’ll discover

• The practices of spiritual health that every member of the IJM staff engage daily, weekly and yearly.
• How Christian justice work is primarily a response to needs, but flows ultimately from the heart of the God who loves justice.
• Why expressing “lament” both individually and together is essential for ministries that engage the world’s suffering.
• The value of pairing consistent rhythms of soul care with frequent alterations in how we engage those rhythms.
• Where to start if you want to grow a culture of spiritual health in your organization.
• Simple tools to measure the progress of spiritual formation – both corporately and individually.

Resources

ijm.org
The Just Church: Becoming a Risk-Taking, Justice-Seeking, Disciple-Making Congregation

Key Quotes

“As I more deeply engage in the mission of God, I more deeply experience the presence of God.” – Jim Martin

“The church of Jesus is hard-wired for the death and life struggles of the world. And the extent to which we absent ourselves from those struggles is the extent we experience a sort of estrangement from the God of justice. And counterintuitively, the extent we opt in is the extent in which, as the church, we find life and meaning and purpose. This is what we’re built for.” – Jim Martin

“As leaders, our responsibility is to help our people find deeper, long lasting fuel for the fight. Because the outrage is going to burn off…” – Jim Martin

“We will only persevere and thrive in this work to the extent that we feel, ‘This is not ultimately on my shoulders. I am simply a child working alongside my Father – joining in His work and finding joy and purpose in that – but ultimately, the final outcome is not up to me. What a freeing moment.” – Jedd Medefind

Meet Our Guest

JIM MARTIN

Author; Vice President of Spiritual Formation, IJM

Jim Martin serves as IJM’s Vice President of Spiritual Formation. Jim works with IJM’s global leaders as they strengthen IJM’s foundation of Christian spiritual formation. Jim seeks to equip IJM staff worldwide to do the work of justice joyfully and sustainably with ever-deepening dependence on God.

Prior to this position, Jim served as IJM’s Vice President of Church Mobilization, where he led a team working to move churches to a deeper level of understanding of God’s passion for justice. Before joining IJM, Jim was a pastor at The River Church in San Jose, CA. Over the years, Jim has spoken at churches, mission events and pastors’ conferences all over the world.

He received a B.A. in Education from the University of Massachusetts. His book, The Just Church—a practical guide for churches to engage in life-giving justice ministry—was released by Tyndale in 2012. Jim and his wife, Jenna, live in the Washington, DC area with their three children.