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Volunteer Series: Part 1
In this introduction to our Volunteer Series, we are finding a better way to find, keep, and develop volunteers. We’re starting at the foundation and turning the tables on how some of our beliefs about volunteers are misguided and lead us further from the truth of what God has for us. God has already provided all the volunteers you need to do exactly what He has for your small church today.
Follow along as we get our beliefs aligned with Him, so we can move forward in all He has called us to do. All the small church strategies in the world won’t help if our hearts are off balance and we’re not aligned with Him. Keep reading to find out:
- A few of the common lies we’ve been taught about potential volunteers
- How wrong beliefs hold us back from experiencing the light and easy yoke of Jesus
- Jesus’ process for finding new volunteers when He was on the planet
- Why volunteers don’t exist to do ministry, but they actually are our ministry
The #1 Struggle I Hear
So often, I hear from small churches that there aren’t enough committed volunteers. Whether I’m talking to a Sunday school teacher, a leadership team, someone who considers themselves ‘just’ a volunteer, or even from the pastors themselves, I hear the same thing. People always say they need volunteers. The good news is, I have answers for you.
One of the reasons so many small churches are struggling is that the majority of what we’ve been taught about volunteers is wrong. This causes us to be in a place of frustration, stress, and exhaustion. However, there’s a solution, and a great way to function that is more fulfilling, purposeful, and effective!
The truth is, that volunteers are not under-committed or too busy. One of the best ways to do this is by not doing it yourself. Contrary to what people think, ministry would not be easier if there were no people involved, and despite what you’ve been told, you can fire a volunteer. What if I also told you that your church doesn’t need more prospective volunteers? I could go on and on about these misconceptions. There are so many wrong beliefs that we hang onto that don’t just affect how we feel, but limit us from doing what God has in mind. If our beliefs aren’t aligned with Him, neither are our visions, attitudes, and behavior.
What To Expect In This Series
Through the upcoming series, we will be going over many of the wrong beliefs that people hold regarding volunteers. We will not only learn what the truth is, but how to do it better. We will walk through actual steps to take and strategies to put in place that might change how you find, recruit, and work with great volunteers.
Over the next few weeks, we’re going to dive deep into a new understanding of volunteers that might flip your views upside down. I may not tell you what you want to hear in these next few weeks, because we aren’t going to talk about how to fix other people. We are going to talk about the one thing we have total authority over, us. We will dive into what we believe, how we think, and how to grab onto God’s purpose for us right where we are planted.
What We Believe About Volunteers And What Needs To Change
The truth is, volunteers don’t exist to do ministry, they are our ministry! We were never told to go find a bunch of people to do the work of the vision that we have. Jesus never did that! In fact, Jesus said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants; I call you friends.” I want to unpack this because it is foundational in how we serve in our churches.
Here, we see that God told the humans He created, that we aren’t His servants, rather, we are His friends! This verse blows my mind every time I think about it. It’s unbelievable that He would consider me a friend. If the God of the universe calls me a friend and not a servant, what place do I have thinking that others are there to serve my wishes and my dreams?
I know most of us don’t think of recruiting volunteers as ‘finding servants’, but if we’re honest, it is the mindset we often operate from in ministry. We separate ourselves even by using the word volunteer. We’ll talk more about the word ‘volunteer’ in future posts, but I want to focus more on who volunteers are, and what they’re called to do.
Volunteers Don’t Exist To Do Ministry, They Are Our Ministry
Imagine pouring into people as Jesus did. It would be about their needs, developing relationships, and serving them. This is His example. Jesus took the time, in a radical showing of servanthood, to wash His disciple’s feet. It wasn’t just a symbolic gesture.
When we develop volunteers, we need to tune into their needs, to ensure a positive volunteer experience. To do this, we should approach people with a heart to see their needs rather than our own. Would that change anything for you?
If you already pour out your life into others, I’m not suggesting that you exhaust yourself by doing more. I believe Jesus when He said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” I believe God wants us healthy, and full of energy and hope. However, I do want to suggest that many of us need to reorient what we’re doing, our motivations, and our beliefs about ministry, to get more aligned with Jesus.
Serving People Instead Of Programs
God didn’t demand that the local church needs to have a nursery, a kids ministry, a youth group, etc. This is not in the Bible. I’m not saying that programs are wrong. A successful program can meet needs and pull a group of people together for a shared goal. They have the potential to be a strong part of our discipleship, and of extending the love of Christ in communities.
However, first things need to come first. I’m not sure that there’s anything on the planet that can’t be used for both good and evil. That being said, if our programs are lacking volunteers, and if we don’t have safe ratios in children’s ministry, this isn’t a good thing and it doesn’t make God happy. This is not the fault of the volunteers, the fault, instead, lies in faulty programming, human expectations, and pride.
Our hearts, motives, and beliefs are at the core of being aligned with Christ and abiding in Him. That means that when programs are pushing our hearts away from Jesus, causing frustration, relational tension, and edging on manipulation, I think it’s time to step back and realign. We need to stop calling people to serve until we’ve invited them into a relationship, and not just a relationship with God, but a relationship with us!
Why is Cultivating Friendships First So Important?
There’s a good chance that we all have people in our churches that we don’t really know or that we don’t actively extend care to. This isn’t what Jesus did, or wants from us. These people should be our new friends. The easiest way to know how much of a friendship you have with people, is by asking yourself if you know their dreams, fears, hopes, and struggles.
When God said “sacrifices and offerings I don’t desire, but a broken and contrite heart…”, I can’t help but think of all the churches trying to run programs, and people who are exhausted and bitter for having to do it all. I don’t believe that God looks at this and sees the failure in our programs. I think He sees our messed up hearts.
The programs will come or they won’t, but remember, start with the first step. You don’t need more volunteers. God’s already given you all the volunteers you need to do exactly what He needs in your church. What He truly wants from us, is to be faithful in what He’s given us.
Develop Volunteers Who Are Already There
If you’re looking to develop volunteers, try to start working with what God has already provided. If He hasn’t provided volunteers for a certain ministry, why are you doing it? We need to embrace one thing before we move forward. Volunteers don’t exist to do ministry, they are our ministry! Another thing we need to hold onto is that God’s already provided everything you need to do what He has for you to do. Be faithful in that.
As I previously mentioned, the next few posts will contain actionable steps and strategies to put in place. If you’ve already moved past the truth in this post, and you want practical ideas to use and do, that’s what is next. I’m always cautious to not jump into strategy without talking about our hearts first. It’s too easy to slip back into the habit of doing, rather than being. It’s easy to fall into a pattern of manipulations, where we value program news over people God has given us to love and serve.
If Jesus calls us friends and no longer servants, then I want to do that too. I think it’s our call to the people in our churches to shift our minds to align with Him. Volunteers don’t exist to do ministry. They are our ministry.
Read More:
Hey Church Volunteers! Quit Trying To Find Your Passion
A “Thank You” That Your VBS Volunteers Will Treasure – Small Church Ministry
