Churches are heavily dependent on volunteers. We ask people to attend and join our church. In addition, we ask them to give a substantial amount of time and money to the ministry of the church. How can you revitalize your volunteers. Mike Haley (Cross Creek Church in Fountain, Colorado) held a break-out session on this subject at the 2015 BBFI Fall meeting at High Street Baptist Church. He encouraged us to be servant leaders and lead by example. He also shared some great ideas their church does with volunteers.
Here are some of the ideas he shared…
Definition of Revitalize: (1) to give new life to; (2) to give new vitality or vigor to
1. Help people find their significance. People don’t serve because there is a need but to make a difference. We are never more like Jesus than when we serve others. You can’t bypass service to be significant (example: James & John – Matt. 20).
2. Know your people and put them first. It’s not about the program. It’s about the people. We can get so busy with the work of ministry we forget the workers of ministry.
3. Share stories of your people with your people from your people. Whoever tells the stories shapes the culture.
4. Build teas and team leaders. We are a society of disconnected people looking for connections. Give people an opportunity to be significant. Infuse every position with importance.
5. Give your people direction.
Two Best-Kept Secrets of Leadership (Andy Stanley)
1. The less you do, the more you accomplish. give it away.
2. The less you do, the more you enable others to accomplish.
The Shepherd’s Staff:
1. The staff represents your responsibility to shepherd your people.
2. The staff is used to establish boundaries. Make sure people know where the boundaries are, but give them freedom within those boundaries.
3. The staff represents your responsibility to encourage your people. The senior pastor should be the CEO: Chief Encouragement Officer. Idea: Every Monday send thank you note(s) to somebody. Encouragement is contagious.
Other Ideas:
Leadership is not an affair of the head, but an affair of the heart. You can learn how to be a better leader from books or people but real leadership (service) comes from the heart.
CrossCreek’s motto: Invite, Include, Invest. They challenge people to attend one service and serve at one service. If you can’t invest (serve), go someplace else.
Servant Ministries: Twice a year for 2 weeks, tables are set up with all ministries for people to sign up. Idea: Some churches have used volunteers to recruit volunteers,
Membership Class: In the membership class, a list of ministries are included for people to volunteer. Don’t be afraid to let people know – you are going to serve.
The Vols. This is a night to encourage all the volunteers. It shows their value to leadership. They have theme nights; 80s, Duck Dynasty, etc. Also have a Plinko Board and call out names for people to win prizes.
Volunteer Training. Children’s ministry has quarterly training with breakfast. Other individual ministries handle their own training.
Volunteer is like a swimming pool. There’s a shallow end where everybody can play or a deep end where only experienced people can play. Determine what it takes to volunteer at various levels.
Resource books: The Way of the Shepherd, Seven Pillars of Servant Leadership
You can read my other articles about this meeting at: Revitalization.