• Recruiters can’t see the concrete impact you’ve made
• ATS keywords like “evangelism” or “community development” are missed
• Your passion sounds generic, not mission‑focused

• Start with a strong action verb (e.g., “Led”, “Established”)
• Quantify results (e.g., “Reached 200+ families”)
• Insert mission‑relevant keywords that match job postings

Missionary – Served in various locations, sharing the gospel and helping communities.

Missionary – Led weekly evangelism workshops for 12 villages, increasing church attendance by 35% and providing clean‑water solutions to 200+ residents.

• Dilutes focus on mission‑related achievements
• ATS may flag the resume as unfocused
• Hiring managers waste time scanning unrelated duties

• Prioritize experiences that directly relate to mission work
• Group minor church duties under a single “Volunteer” line
• Highlight leadership or project management roles

Volunteer – Sunday School teacher, choir member, usher, fundraiser, prayer group leader.

Volunteer – Coordinated annual fundraising campaign raising $15,000 for overseas mission projects; organized youth outreach program serving 50+ participants.

• ATS may not recognize terms like “sanctify” or “altar call”
• Non‑mission recruiters might misinterpret your role
• Reduces keyword match score

• Translate theological language into universal terms (e.g., “spiritual mentorship” → “leadership coaching”)
• Pair jargon with standard industry keywords

Facilitated altar calls and sanctified worship sessions for congregants.

Facilitated worship sessions and led spiritual mentorship programs, fostering leadership skills in 30+ participants.

• ATS may fail to parse employment timelines
• Hiring managers can’t quickly assess career progression
• Creates a sloppy appearance

• Use a uniform format like “MMM YYYY – MMM YYYY” (e.g., “Jun 2018 – Aug 2022”)
• Align dates to the right margin for readability

2015 – 2018: Missionary in Kenya

Jun 2015 – Aug 2018: Missionary, Kenya