As organizations
grow, they begin to hire employees.
Churches are often started with a minimum of employees and rely heavily on volunteers to handle most of the
assignments and responsibilities.
As churches begin
to grow, the pastor looks forward to the time that he or she may begin to hire staff to help in the
ministry. Worship leaders, youth
leaders, an office assistant or Children’s coordinator are often likely first
hires. While this has often worked well
in many of our churches, I think we have missed a great opportunity.
Make your first
hire, a volunteer coordinator.
Churches have an
amazing source of talent in the pews.
Most of us know that getting the people that are simply attending church
to being the church is one huge and clear illustration of discipleship in
action. People grow in their faith walk
as they exercise their gifts by serving.
Active involvement in church ministry in various volunteer capacities is
not only healthy for church members, it also fulfills one of the primary missions of the church, to make disciples. What could be better than to also learn to be a servant, like Jesus?
While church
leaders intuitively realize they need volunteers, they often begin to dream of
the time that they will be able to get 'real' staff.
Church leaders also dream about become one of those growing, healthy
churches that have conferences and have pastors that write books about how to
do “it.”
Growing, healthy churches that have conferences also have figured out how to create and maintain a healthy culture of volunteerism. They recognize the importance of having a staff person that is 100% focused on volunteers.
Churches have found amazing volunteer teachers, leaders, worship leaders, children's ministry coordinators, business administrators, computer experts and gardeners. Getting new people engaged in some volunteer activity, coordinating
schedules so that volunteers know where and when they are to serve, ensuring
adequate depth in volunteer roles so that volunteers get vacations and regular opportunities for respite, and creating a culture where volunteers are regularly
recognized, trained, and thanked are great bullet points on a volunteer
coordinators job description.
Hire the Volunteer Coordinator and empower the people to be the church, utilize their God-given talents and grow in their faith.
