Introducing Jenny Chantz
For six years now, the seeJesus Board and I have been working and praying that God would provide someone to help run the ministry—currently I have eight direct reports! Several years ago, I learned that Jenny Chantz had stepped down from her position at Bethany Christian Services of Philadelphia to care for her son. She’d risen over a period of 24 years from a counselor to Executive Director. I wanted to approach her, but I didn’t have any money to fund her position, so I just wrote her name on my “Chief of Staff ” (COS) prayer card and prayed.
Jenny was a regular in my Sunday school class and would listen eagerly as I explained the “J-curve.” She mentioned to me one Sunday after class that she had just finished reading A Loving Life and immediately started re-reading it! It encouraged her heart at a time when she was weighed down by her son’s challenges and the passing of her father. She was struck by the concept of hesed love: one-way, stubborn love that doesn’t give up.
Over the winter I approached an old friend of our work to consider funding the considerable start up costs for a COS. He was interested, but no firm commitment. But that was enough for me to take a tentative step in Jenny’s direction. I continued to pray for the next couple of months and then in May I invited Jenny to lunch and said, “For the last couple of months I’ve been praying about having you join the seeJesus staff as our COS ... what do you think?” She was stunned and speechless. We agreed to pray about it.
Funds to start Jenny on a part-time basis this summer came from a small fund raised for this COS role. Then in August, Steve Byrd, our Director of Partner Relations, resigned. The Board and I felt we were best served as an organization by waiting on a new Director of Partner Relations and instead bringing Jenny on. So, on September 1, Jenny joined full-time as COS. Jesus is always telling us to “wait and pray”—they go hand-in-hand!
What does a Chief of Staff do? Essentially, the COS tracks, monitors, reviews, creates and assists staff with their projects and projects of her own. This is a unique role and not an easy one to fill. It requires the COS to be diplomatic and sensitive to the needs of the staff and the CEO; to have grace under pressure; and to be able to communicate effectively. I’m thankful for the gift of Jenny!
