The Cru MPD Podcast

Ep. 45: Organization in MPD with Brandi Mueller

• Katie Johnson & Michele Davis

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Work smarter not harder in MPD? Absolutely! New staff Brandi Mueller helps us all maximize our time, efforts...and MPDX.

Katie Johnson:

Welcome to the Cru MPD podcast with Katie Johnson and Michele Davis. We love that the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. We are driven to equip and inspire Christian workers to be Christ centered, fully funded and financially faithful, so that missionary staff can come alongside all people to help them to know Jesus. This process is more widely known as ministry partner development, or MPD for short. video podcast, we're still at the Michindoh conference center for the MPD refresh retreat. When you do a fun time talking to stand up and your stories and we will travel with microphones so that we can record things. Yeah, I didn't take something out of my suitcase, I think. Yeah, yeah. I'm not sure if it's for any interviews, our listeners, whoever you are, and let's start with like, how did you decide to join the staff? So tell us you mean, why did it happen? Yes.

Brandi Mueller:

My name is Brandi Mueller. And I joined staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign we're currently living in Champaign as I'm doing. I decided to join staff for new reasons, but one was just the impact that had on my life. When I was a student. I knew I wanted to get involved right away. I had multiple siblings, who were involved at that. University and I just saw their lives totally over the course of their time in college, which really influenced and impacted me and my walk with the Lord and my faith. So throughout college as impacted me then I had other career options and things but as it went along, I thought this was a really really great way to invest my time and invest my years with

Katie Johnson:

awesome and your ministry. For now is

Brandi Mueller:

is the campus ministry, university. So Cru they're a big

Katie Johnson:

school. So you joined if you'd like to join staff, this may be yes, yes. I promise. Yeah. I think it's really apropos for your season of life. Katie, like we both have small kids. We both like to just stay home and her sweat pants. Virtual Training right now and I literally don't know what people do this year. We probably did. You know, maybe my animals my children. I don't only have to you know, there's probably some listeners who have like, you know, they didn't do a virtual tour. It was like so many of you. What was it like to do a virtual MPD training

Brandi Mueller:

was? Yeah, so I did not know what to expect going into it. I do have to say this is not just because I'm on this podcast was out of any sort of virtual training, things that I've done a lot. This was definitely the best, most well organized and actually engaging. I was extremely thankful for because yeah, the prospect of just being on Zoom for days, days on end, was kind of scary and sounds like not a great thing. But having having a physical box that was sent to us with a lot of materials. A lot of different weird played out or things like that, but then also having a manual in front of me that I know every other person on that Zoom call also physically has in their hands, made it feel like we were more connected. Even even in that physical sense. That just virtually so yeah, I I really enjoyed it. But I do have to say it has been really really nice being at this retreat and meeting some of those people in person. Yeah,

Katie Johnson:

yeah, this is I guess, is this your first conference since joining staff that's in person?

Brandi Mueller:

Yeah, yes. Yeah. With with other staff. I got to go to a little bit of our gifts as Paul got away, but But yeah, it's the first time I've been in many, many of these people.

Katie Johnson:

Whenever I meet people, I've only met on Zoom. I can't help but think Why is everyone so tall? It's like the story in my head. I coached these people in zoom for a year once I met them in person. And the husband was so tall, like over six feet, and that they found me so they were like, Hey, Katie, and I was like, how are you? That opened up to him? Realize? box here probably sitting Yeah. I didn't even wonder short.

Brandi Mueller:

Yes, you that's what I was. often do you think? To person, you are five one. I love that. Yeah.

Katie Johnson:

So we have some friend Brandon. I talked to us a little bit ago about how he's going through initial NPV and a couple things that she talked about setting up that I wanted this template. And the first is but she she actually loves next and I want you to tell us tell us about that. Tell us why get all our listeners fired up for everything.

Brandi Mueller:

Well, I think there is there is so much to discover. There. There really are so so many tools and all of the things that I would often think of I would need to do manually like set up some kind of reminder on my phone or I still put things in my calendar but also being able to set specific tasks in MPDX or to have a tag like if there's a church that supports me, and people are associated with that church, then I can put a little tag on it to know Oh, that's I don't recognize this name. But that's because there are a referral from this church that I'm connected with. So having those things that can just help Spark Spark my memory, especially when there's so much to keep track of are extremely helpful. And then while in MPD, you're doing reports, so it's very, very easy to just transitioning from entering those textbooks. Just call movements to putting that into a report and saying how you're doing also also I discovered that for appointments you can put attempted or scheduled or something which I found very helpful because I would be so kind of disheartened when I would get stood up for an appointment and then I would just erase it out of the x or we will reschedule it. And then you can't see that I had actually put in the work and had an appointment scheduled this week but six of them actually happened. I thought it was so helpful when I stopped oh actually attempted that and contacted this person and tried to make it happen, but they didn't show up it. For me. It's really helpful kind of seeing all of that work laid out but having something else besides my own mind that is keeping track at all.

Katie Johnson:

So they need to look for me a little bit because I'm just thinking the people listening might be thinking, well, that's great for her. Um, how did you did you just learn all these things? About MPDX by doing and looking around and exploring or was there a way that you learned about MPDX and how to use it so well?

Brandi Mueller:

That's a great question. I did not just there were some very helpful videos and helpful things along with my initial orientation weekend as an intern, just quick little bits of it. But then my coach for the summer said different things that she had found helpful. And then especially now joining staff, there were a lot more in depth resources that I could go and look up on my own, but also from our new staff orientation. And from that time, looking at it, there were so many helpful things shared by other people. Or just basic ways to navigate it. And then And then other things within it. Because I use a ton of technology all the time. Were more intuitive, I thought was great and really helpful that that they were intuitive. I found that to be very user friendly, but yeah, so it's a little bit of a mix of exploring and learning some on my own. But I would definitely recommend just watching some quick videos because sometimes I can be really lost and be like how in the world do I do whatever export these contacts or do this specific thing. And then I can just go go on resource site or look it up on on staff web or something like that and find the answer. Like, I'm sure people have been there before. But it's

Katie Johnson:

this a resource site that you're referring to

Brandi Mueller:

the resource site, I know that's what it's called. But it has many resources. So you have questions about anything like that. There are probably people who have been there before and have developed or in the process of developing a resource on it that that can work some harder, harder.

Katie Johnson:

Yeah, well, I'll try to link some things in the show notes and the in pediatrics videos or links to those and that the resource site just listeners, you can go directly to the show notes. To get to that you do want to also in just when you're in it the X in the right hand corner it's like a little question bubble. You can just start there were two what you think should happen and what shouldn't be both Malone and edX. And that will just tell you if it is checked out anyway.

Brandi Mueller:

So we'll have a good search bar or just a quick question. Asker Yeah,

Katie Johnson:

what what would you say is the hidden gem and PDX that everyone listening needs to know about?

Brandi Mueller:

It's hidden and liberate

Katie Johnson:

are just like this, this like this is what makes it so worth it. Because there are people who have used other software's and systems and it can feel uphill to switch. But we think there's good reasons. I'm curious from your perspective, what's that thing that just makes? MPX like, this feature is this next system upgrade?

Brandi Mueller:

Yeah, I I think is so so when the way that MPDX connects a contact with all of their information. And if it's a referral specifically that it's extremely helpful if you could put who referred that person and make notes or comments. So just a lot of the features within a person's contact themselves. I love specifically with tasks as well. You can see oh, this is when their newsletter got sent. And then this is when I think or oops, I need to I never actually think that that's overdue. I'm glad that I looked at this or that that was on there as a reminder, because I've done that before I thought that I think the person or I thought that I gave them a call. And I'll look in there and realize, I actually never do. So just the way the interconnectedness of a person's contact really gives you so much information that again, is helpful to almost give your brain permission to release that information. And not put that pressure on yourself to remember all of

Katie Johnson:

that I love that it gives you brain space. We all need more breathing space. We really do and it all becomes a blur. Yeah, everybody. There's just I think I'm gonna set for 20 years. And so I have I have talked to hundreds of people about my ministry, and that is really overwhelming and as much as I love each of those individual people that I might remember, but it's not like I'm just as one human actually able to remember everything that I should always even just be a bit have a basic relationship with the volume.

Brandi Mueller:

And there are also those special circumstances like when when I've reached out to people before and they say actually, this is not a great time. My dad's really sick or I'm having trouble here like you get back to me in a few weeks or can you do this or that? It's very, very helpful to make note of that, especially if that was in a phone conversation or not written communication, because then that can prevent a situation where you send an excited message and person's like, oh my goodness, wait, I told you that I was in this really hard place and that makes them not feel very cared for. So just those little notes and features can be just so helpful.

Katie Johnson:

Yeah, excellent, because we definitely want to lead with care. And we don't want our brains and our memory to be the thing that that makes us excellent lunch. Yeah. I'm suddenly report. Randy, you had mentioned to me that you have done some some kind of organizing work to be really optimized in your scheduling of MPD tasks. Could you tell us more about

Brandi Mueller:

Yeah, so another thing that I've learned new stuff during our MPD there, I learned a lot there joining stuff, I wonder why it's required. But in that one, one thing that has helped immensely with prioritization is there was I don't even think this was an MPD specific chart, but just a chart of when people generally squat more often when there's a higher percentage of people responding and that can be on a specific day, and what specific times of day, so I kind of took that almost as a goal experiment, but also just to try to optimize my time and said, Alright, it looks like Tuesday, is the day that most people respond or act respond. And between 10 and noon, or around lunchtime is a time of day in which most people respond. So I just took that and said alright, this two hour chunk on Tuesdays, tweak I'm going to have that in my schedule as initiating time and just send out a bunch of messages and four weeks for several weeks of my starting out on all of my appointments, came from initiations that were just during that time, and I was having 10 to 12 appointments a week and they were just all from responses during that time and that again, it's another work smarter, not harder. thing was that I didn't have to spend a ton of hours at three in the afternoon, every single day doing it three to five or something and not getting responses because it was around lunchtime. Many people probably just grabbing their phone and can send a quick response. And I was loving it because it freed me up so much to do other things to use my time more wisely and just be a better steward of my time.

Katie Johnson:

Okay, so I and I think this is also a bit of what's current communication technology. So this might be different for some of our listeners, because it used to be that the best time to call was also your Wilson calling landlines. Yes. And then the second best time was like Saturday morning. You know, like kind of like you don't want to call too early because sometimes people sleep in but you don't want to call the equity club people if fetal activities and those were like the gold standard. And I think I know I've I've had frustrating times, if I tried to like follow that. That temptation because I just doesn't work anymore. You know, that's not when people are most likely to answer your phone and that the people you're seeing is really true is that now the way we reach somebody is with this little rectangle in their pocket. Most people around lunchtime, hanging out with the smartphone has definitely changed some of that and you know us in who do who MPD for part of our ministry need to adapt to that and so I'm really good like you know, real world example of that being successful. Yeah, I really like how you took information and applied it and kind of tested it right like not just applied it but you sure if it wasn't successful because let's be real like that timeframe. Might be the most likely time people are going to get that but that might not work best for everybody. Right. But you've experienced was this is working great. It's I think it just shows that I don't know encourage isn't there, right? Why not? Try this works? Keep going because people change it and try something else. And so I do I do under brandy. You said the you know first. This is the only way he reached that length of time he reached out to people when he got several implants from the timeframe. Does that still the case or are you referring to different types?

Brandi Mueller:

Yeah, I I think as I've gone on, it's gotten a bit scattered because it had responded during that time. Or I reached out to them on a different day or the follow up to Tuesday message was on Friday or a few minutes later. Then it's gotten a little bit more scattered to where Oh, I just texted them Monday so I'm actually not going to text Tuesday. And I did that so I think as I've gone along that has been different but when I'm reaching out to new people, I usually try to do it. Not always at that exact same Tuesday slot, but generally, either around lunchtime, or when I know they're getting home from work or for a little bit because I've I found that to be more successful. Or in the mornings when I know they'll see it at lunchtime.

Katie Johnson:

I've actually heard that for like an email. It's good to have your email hit the inbox at like 7am Because a lot of people myself included, I wake up and I touch my phone first as my alarm clock until there's a notification like I just assume that something's happened overnight that I must know about. Maybe I should do that but like on my phone or anything my first attention. That notification could just be an unreal on Instagram or it could be your email right and he's the one sending you emails over the night with Google boomerang scheduled things to be set at a certain time. Oh, I know I was saying I know you assume something's happening overnight and I'm saying it's brand new work. Yes. Yes. Just like oil and red.

Brandi Mueller:

Never used. I've never heard of is that

Katie Johnson:

it's not the brain.

Brandi Mueller:

But some people you send it like habit at a certain time.

Katie Johnson:

Yeah, that's this is not an act this wasn't also will tell you the emails that are opened. And then if it hasn't yet been added to boomerang back to you. It gives you a rendered everybody sent. Again. You can also use it like if somebody sends you something like I can't deal with this today. I want to deal with this bro you can boom right into yourself for the next day. And that's how you can avoid people but also not be totally or

Brandi Mueller:

who would keep the song true

Katie Johnson:

if you love someone it doesn't just go into like you know the email space of the world and yes, don't wonder like didn't even get it. Did it go to their junk email? I do like studying social media DMS over email for you what is your mode of communication that most often using right now in MPD?

Brandi Mueller:

Text for sure. Almost not quite exclusively, but quite quite a lot of texts and actually that's that's another point. I'm glad you brought that up. Because we're so another thing that that was really hit on was the different generations for different forms. And so for example, when I was thinking about reaching out to my great aunt, they don't don't have a cell phone. And so when I even tried to email them for which I still should have called them I should have called them but when I emailed them she I think that it was started might have been me but also my so so then went through my dad and my dad called me and told me in this physical location and the specifics they couldn't make I was sick at the time. So giving them a call where I can actually be content with them. She was she was so thankful for that because she said I just don't know like we've been scammed before. And I'm so glad you called and I'm actually hearing your voice so that even the reminder just call first events, especially someone in an older generation, really prefer a phone call because that's my experience. Many, many people that I'm contacting are like please do not call me or send me a message first.

Katie Johnson:

Oh, how many I think somebody's sick. Yeah, yes. Or something. I mean, or maybe it's my mom. I mean, that's,

Brandi Mueller:

yeah. People that always call

Katie Johnson:

and there's certain friends and I'm okay with that. Okay, well, I'm just experiencing us because I definitely am but if the number isn't safe in my phone, it is most likely a solicitation. And I think that being in MasterCard development as a missionary people sometimes associate us with that even though we would attest firmly that what we're doing isn't soliciting to sound like we're inviting people to invest in, you know, ministry to reach people for Christ and that is different, but a lot of times they get in a phone call and if somebody who wants to buy milk, or somebody who wants to do a political survey, or you know, it's very rarely that somebody is calling me that I don't have their numbers saved in our system, I want to talk to you. And so personally i i prefer Well, yeah, I don't I don't do a lot from calling me but I'd prefer somebody to pre text me and say, Hey, this is my number. I'm I would like to call you. I'll answer the phone. But even like now like my job doctor's office as the one Paul you know, they have there's just deeper and fewer situations where a phone call is something I've asked for. And so even though like I used to do 100 miles a week, learning German allowed to use case around your parents basement, making those phone calls for voicemail or entire actually answers and your fries we're not that old. We can we have your DMS people can slide into that Brady at a time we're just like how it's going. You know? Here's the backup. A lot of people expressed but even though an MPD you're you are initiating and a lot of people so there's like a like high volume of traffic actually still felt alone. You know, in terms of like relationship and community and things like that. So I'm wondering just how that has been for you. Like how are you finding relational connection and community in the midst of work can it just you know, it's Firstly this high volume of people you're initiating with someone retiring, but you suddenly Fred's scratch? How are you navigating?

Brandi Mueller:

Yes, that's, that's very, very true thing. I have found this type of MPD to be a very rushing time in terms of community to actually build community even even things that some unique parts of MPD allow that that I'm on campus are not the same, like having more energy to do things are really keeping my small group time the saying on Wednesday nights at seven o'clock, I'm not going to have weapons because this small group is needs to be the priority. Otherwise, I'm I'm not going to either be as motivated at my walk with the Lord like I'm not going to be setting my eyes towards him if I'm not connecting with people or even having that sort of checking aside from church on Sunday, so especially when I'm not having that Bible study with my staff to them. I'm not leading a Bible study on campus. So all of these things that are to my schedule just aren't anymore. So I've found it actually a great chance to build community and take that intentional step to do that because it can seem like oh, it's it's so busy. It's such a random schedule. But there still is room to be intentional with how you're setting up and structure to build that because I I feel like I actually didn't have that many friends during my interviews. Because I was working so hard and had so many nights that were full and was just really tired and had neglected to be building more community. So now after two years, and I've joined interning during COVID and stuff, so a little bit different. But now, it was just really, really lucky to have this space, and even the relational space of not being on all the time right on campus to actually build friendships. With people and take that as an opportunity to to practice cultivating friendships and godly conversations and really, really using MPD as a ministry, as, as we often discuss,

Katie Johnson:

do Yeah, and what you just shared is such a good example of being sure that you pour in to your own heart and soul so that you have something to pour out later. If your well is running dry. It's not gonna work out very well, especially in the long term. So I'm thankful you're building that habit now. To your life that's kind of served me well. Yeah, okay, last, last thought. If you have the opportunity right now, to pack in a time machine and go back to before us orientation and tell your day self something they need to know about what's coming up next. Would you do that? Or would you say to yourself whatever you'd really happy i

Brandi Mueller:

Yes, I would do that. I mean, I I've grown immensely from the mistakes I have made. Refine. So I don't know if regret is actually the right word. But I would definitely tell myself to chill out. I mean, I was very highly motivated in a great way which jumping into MPD was great. I was ready to get after it. But even in those initial weeks, I hadn't learned going to my church, a small group, I started those things. So I was just so so ready to get into it. That then I was doing a lot of other things and even neglecting very often spending time in the Word and really connecting God because I was connecting people so much and that would give me kind of an energy high or I wouldn't be hitting just a lot of appointments, was having a really, really hard return. Even when I would reach out to a ton of people. I was getting so many people to respond at the beginning. But then my my emotions and my well being and so much of what I was working towards was based off of those circumstances and responses and connections with people when it should have just been rooted and grounded in the Lord. Give me more nice to actually say, Hey, chill out. It's, it's okay. Like the numbers are actually not up to you and the way so the satisfaction or gratification that I was getting from any results that were coming was misplaced in a way and so yeah. If I if I would have just been keeping my eyes on the Lord. I think I would have definitely started out just having better rest rhythms and like you had said caring wearing for myself. The input I was having to to pour out a little bit. So I have grown definitely not arrived. I don't know if I ever but yeah, I

Katie Johnson:

would definitely tell that's awesome and definitely chose I think was them and and just growth in the season. It's really encouraging branding, or anything so much for joining us. It's been really fun, really engaging, and I think really helpful conversation. So thanks for joining us. Thank you, guys.

Michele Davis:

Thanks for listening to the Cru MPD podcast. Please help others find our show by liking, sharing and rating us on Apple iTunes and wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find us on social media by searching for the Cru MPD podcast. Check out the show notes for more information including the various resources you mentioned in this episode. Till next time, we encourage you thankful for Faith in all things especially MPD.