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11/25/07
Uncovering Gems
Not long ago we interviewed a pastoral candidate at an elders meeting. The candidate was talking about motivating others and brought up some corporate experience he had. After talking about the lesson he learned on how to be more direct and willing to confront one pastor quietly interjected, “but you know that will often not work with volunteers, don’t you?”
Volunteerism isn’t easy in theory, and it’s four times as difficult in practice. Despite its difficulty, it is a topic worth our consideration and I want to use this post I want to rattle off a few more suggestions:
1) Talk to your volunteers about their gifting: don’t assume you know what your volunteers believe their gifts are. You might be surprised. If you know the volunteer you’re meeting with, tell him or her what you believe his or her gifts are. People are all too often off in their gifting self-assessment and your sensitive words can help them shape a self-understanding. It is also invaluable to talk to those who are close to him or her (small group leaders are great) about his or her gifting.
2) Teach principles: go beyond the actual action you want your volunteer to perform and talk about the principles/basic theology that under girds why you want them to do it that way. Telling your ushers what words to say and where to stand is one thing, telling them the principles behind it is another. Ushers who understand the biblical teaching about hospitality and the purpose of the church in hospitality will be empowered.
3) Be flexible with your expectations: some volunteers will give you one hour a week. Maximize that hour. Other volunteers want to give much more. Be flexible enough to be able to utilize their willingness to go above and beyond.
Investing in your volunteers is always time well spent. Make sure you build into your schedule enough time – both in group training and individual meetings – with your volunteers. You will bless many through this investment.
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