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, we'll explore:
- 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.
Key Quotes
“As I more deeply engage in the mission of God, I more deeply experience the presence of God.”
“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.”
“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…”
“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.”
Resources and Guests
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.
Jedd has seen (and experienced!) that lives are turned upside-down when Christians begin to reflect God’s heart through adoption, foster care and service to orphans worldwide. This kind of love transforms not only vulnerable children, but also those who open hearts and homes to them. Churches begin to look different, too, as the entire community pulls together for children who’ve known great hurt. Finally, the change touches even onlookers, who encounter the Gospel not only in words, but made visible before their eyes.
Desiring to spur this kind of transformation through the Church, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives, along with a wide network of churches. CAFO’s membership works in tandem to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.
Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”
Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He also helped establish the California Community Renewal Project, which strengthens nonprofits in some of the state’s most challenged communities. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.
Books written by Jedd include Upended and Four Souls. He also writes articles and op-eds for publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine, and engages radio interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, offers a brief-yet-rich exploration of how families and communities can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.
