Volunteers are Gold… (and how to make them feel that way)
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, January 18, 2007
- Viewed 217
- (8) comments so far
This is something we must do if we’re going to excel in our ministries. If you’re like me, there was a time in your life when you served as a volunteer before taking on vocational ministry, but as time goes on, you’ve forgotten what ministry feels like from a voluntary position. I mean, as a paid staff person my paycheck from the church is a big weekly “thank you”. But for some volunteers, there can be extended periods of time where they are shown no sense of appreciation nor made to feel valuable. If we want to maintain healthy levels of volunteerism in our churches, we must become better at appreciating those who are doing the work, no matter how small the task. The following are a couple of ideas that you can implement to improve your standards of volunteer appreciation.
The most basic place to start is to simply say “thank you”. I know, a novel idea. Yet I think that a lot of leaders tend to dismiss this step because of its simplicity. Sure, saying thank you to the same people week in and week out can seem forced or insincere, but it’s one of the best things that you can do for your volunteers. I never let a week go by without saying thank you to every person who serves under my leadership. Not only do I thank them for their service, but I try to point out one specific aspect of their performance from the day that was particularly excellent. For instance, I might go up to my bass player after our services and say something like “Mike, thanks so much for serving today. The line you played at the end of our first song was just perfect and sounded amazing!” In that moment I’m not only thanking my volunteer, but I’m showing him that his efforts were noticed and made a difference in our services. Never underestimate the value of a simple thank you.
On top of an ongoing sense of gratitude toward your volunteers, try to find an occasional way to say thank you in a big way. I know that there has been a big buzz lately on church admin sites as to how much we can legally give in gifts to our volunteers, but a big thank you doesn’t have to be expensive. Throw a dinner for your volunteers. Do an awards banquet. Bring in a guest speaker. Take them to a movie. Have congregants write about what their service has meant to them- Just do something out of the ordinary to express your appreciation to them. The effort alone will go a long way.
Finally, one of the best things you can do to help your volunteers feel valued is to keep and maintain a sense of vision and purpose for them. At the end of the day, we all want to know that what we are doing is making a difference in the lives of other people. But if there is no sense of vision for your volunteers it will be easy for them to become disillusioned and float from one area of ministry to the next. Volunteers need to know that their efforts are making a difference and they need to be told often. As a leader, it’s imperative to maintain the vision for those you lead and help them see how they are fulfilling their purpose.
Volunteers are gold. Actually, they are more valuable than gold. Without them, you and I are powerless in our ministry. With them, you and I can empower an entire community of believers to change this world for the Kingdom. So the next time you’re with your volunteers, may you realize that you’re with one of the greatest resources God has given you for your ministry.
FOR DISCUSSION: How do you make your volunteers feel valued? What is the best thing you’ve ever done/tried in this area? What were the results?
Brice Basquez is the Pastor of Worship Arts at New Hope Community Church in Bryan, OH. His main responsibilities at New Hope are planning and coordinating worship services, music, and drama. Brice enjoys family, jazz, Kansas University basketball, golf, face-melting-and-ulcer-forming spicy food, and beating his Senior Pastor at "Name that Tune" Brice resides in Bryan, OH along with his wife and son.
I’ve seen the phrase “volunteers are gold” used around the church scene before (mainly from Brad Powell at Northridge Community Church) and I believe it is one of the truest statements I’ve ever heard. Volunteers are the most valuable commodities in ministry. Without them, nothing would get done in our churches. But I’m sure that most of us would agree that we could do a better job at making our volunteers feel valuable...
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Wendi on Thu, January 18, 2007
Great article. It’s so true that once we join the ranks of paid staff we lose the ability to view our work through the lenses of a volunteer. A word of caution though, about the author’s comment:
[The most basic place to start is to simply say “thank you.”]
If our thank-you implies “thank you for HELPING us,” then we unintentionally devalue the volunteers we intend to affirm. In fact, check for the word “helping” and eliminate it if at all possible. Volunteers are equal members of the priesthood of believers, they are full partners with us in ministry . . . not helpers. They just don’t happen to receive a paycheck.
In my opinion, the most effective and important thing we can do is make sure volunteering is a mechanism for genuine relationships. In relationship to the issue of gratitude, if we just stop in regularly to say thank you to people with whom we have no relationship, it will eventually seem disingenuous. We need not have a relationship with everyone we thank . . . but we must have a system that insures EVERYONE who serves has a relationship with SOMEONE related to their service.
A good way to insure this is to develop a system that insures every volunteer gets the opportunity to sit with someone once or twice (better) a year and reflect on their ministry. This can be tracked just like a company tracks employee evaluations. Imagine if every nursery worker, SS teacher, usher, choir member . . . sat over a cup of coffee in the middle and end of every ministry season. These conversations could involve mussing over questions like:
• How are we growing spiritually through this service?
• What are some “God moments” when we were part of something only God could do?
• What do I need to become more effective?
• Is this ministry still a good fit? If not, how can I transition to something that is?
Again, if someone leads a team of 50 volunteers, (s)he can’t possible take responsibility for all these conversations. The primary thing is that they happen.
Peter Hamm on Thu, January 18, 2007
“Volunteers are the most valuable commodities in ministry.”
No I’d go further than that… Volunteers ARE the ministry! We are just the ones who equip them to do it. GREAT article.
Thanking them is great, but making them the decision-makers and the real ministers is better. Working as a team with them is its own reward, for them and for me!
And I was a volunteer for a VERY long time, so I still have not forgotten how it feels.
dll on Mon, March 23, 2009
A good way to insure this is to develop a system that insures every volunteer gets the opportunity to sit with someone once or twice a year and reflect on their ministry.
This can be tracked just like a company tracks employee evaluations. Imagine if every nursery worker, SS teacher, usher, choir member .
...xzx on Wed, March 25, 2009
casino online main11Casino online
Martin86 on Mon, May 11, 2009
In fact, check for the word “helping” and eliminate it if at all possible. Volunteers are equal members of the priesthood of believers,online master degree english they are full partners with us in ministry . . . not helpers. They just don’t happen to receive a paycheck.online bachelors degree in english
What causes cancer on Wed, June 24, 2009
I’m doing research on this for my boss and I haven’t found anything on the internet yet about it. You will probably figure it, so out I’m a Volunteer!! So I need to know
Weather forecast on Fri, June 26, 2009
There are a lot of different programs out there that recognize volunteers and community service for individuals and groups. Most people don’t volunteer for recognition, but rather the desire to help others in the community.
Jackson on Thu, July 16, 2009
“I am happy to say that applications to join the 2009 Nitro SuperGP Volunteer Team are now open and we have a wide range of positions available,” Ms Graham said 70-528 dumps.
“There are many benefits to being involved in the team, including official 2009 Nitro SuperGP Shirts and Cap, access to the event for you and a friend PK0-002 dumps, some meals and drinks, free public transport to the event, as well as a participation certificate and an invitation to the exclusive volunteers after party 642-586 dumps.”
Page 1 of 1 pages
Post a Comment