The Importance of Volunteers in Churches
Introduction
There are virtually no church ministries that succeed, or last without the dedicated time, talent, and generous financial participation of volunteers.
Frany Crosby was such a volunteer at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Tucson, Arizona in the 1990s. She was a retired business woman who took up the challenge to establish a branch of Food Share in our congregation.
Food Share is a national nonprofit with a unique approach to helping Americans buy low cost food (foodshare.com). At that time each month for $25 and 25 hours of community volunteerism of any kind a family could purchase a box of food that could last a family a long time. The Foodshare organization would purchase and deliver the food to a sponsoring organization. Each sponsoring group would collect the $25. On delivery day many volunteers would divide the wholesale packaging into family boxes. With a large number of participant it was quite the assembly line opperation.
However, leading our group was not the limit of Frany’s service. She became known as the Foodshare Lady of Tucson and far flung towns and cities across Arizona. She would travel at her own expense to promote and help organize many other groups.
1. Historical Context
•Early Church: The tradition of volunteering in early Christian communities.
There are no examples of paid leaders in the Gospel’s, The Acts of the Apostles, or the entirety of the New Testament. True we read believers contributed to the chutes and the missionaries. However there are no salaries as such. St. Paul notably continued his profession as tent maker.
2. Spiritual and Community Benefits
From participation in leading worship, caring for church property, and participating in church outreach or evangelistic programs volunteers gain many much.
Active volunteers have a stronger sense of belonging. They find more meaning in their lives. They build lasting friendships. They experience a greater sense of purpose. Most importantly their faith is strengthened and they may more easily recognize Christ in midst of their ministries.
I have observed this especially in my participation in Kairos prison ministry. To be an active Kairos volunteer who participates in the weekend events in prison requires great time, effort, expense, self sacrifice and prayer. However, once a person has served on a weekend they become part of the group inmates call “the ones who come back.”
3. Operational Support
Larger congregations usually need to hire professionals for the everyday functioning of the institution. Beyond the Pastor they need an administrator, a secretary, janitor, and perhaps a choir director or organist. Smaller congregations, of which there are many, need volunteers for all of these positions.
However, even large congregations can not continue with out the tireless work of volunteers. The church I attend when home St.Paul’s, Shreveport has about 50 volunteers serving during Sunday morning. There are acolytes, vergers, lectors, and audio technicians. There are Sunday school teachers, ushers, prayers, and yes money counters.
During the week there are leaders of small groups, and outreach programs. Periodically there are volunteers for VBS, local outreach, mission trips,
4. Outreach and Mission Work
This topic has been briefly addressed yet bears further discussion. While there are many churches with a variety of outreach ministries, there are many members who participate in other ministries not directly related to their own congregations. Perhaps we might suggest these other participations are indirectly a consequence of and/or contribution to their church membership.
For example, Recovery programs often meet in churches. They are both supported by and provide opportunities to church members. When members participate as members in organizations throughout the community they often become ambassadors for their home congregations.
5. Building Leadership and Skills
Churches who empower volunteers are not only gaining an effective workforce for their congregation. They are building leaders with skills for the greater society. This is especially true when it comes to Youth. Programs for teens are especially important. Some chores may be able to hire a youth minister. However, many depend on dedicated volunteer leaders. Effective youth programs provide spiritual guidance in the present that develops adult volunteers in the future.
6. Challenges and Solutions
•Volunteer Burnout: Addressing the risk of burnout and ways to support volunteers.
Burnout among volunteers is an often ignored problem. Church leadership must regularly recognize and appreciate the gifts, talents, and time given by the volunteers. Yes, the activities ought to be the reward by themselves. However, it can be easy for volunteers to overextend themselves.
•Recruitment and Retention: Strategies for attracting and keeping volunteers.
There is one important concept in my studies of personality type that applies to this subject. Walter Lowen explained that we have for conscious levels of activities: WORK, PLAY, CHALLENGE, and CREATIVITY. Most people use their Work and Play modes in their professional life. Challenge and Creativity provide opportunities to refresh the, for work.
Churches make the mistakes of recruiting teachers to be Sunday School teachers and Bankers to lead their financial management. It is better to recruit them for something they do less than their professions.
Of course we want competence in volunteers. So here is the learning. To avoid burnout in such positions recruit retired professions. They are no longer doing g those jobs 50 or more hours a week and would be happy to do it voluntarily.
Conclusion
Volunteers are the life blood of congregations. (Though not more important than the Blood of Jesus!) Ministry is the task of all believers. It has been humorously said Pastors are paid to be good while members are good for nothing! NOT TRUE! Volunteer members of The Body of Christ have much to gain: faith, skills, meaning, friendships, ……..
It is incumbent on all church leaders to actively recruit, train, encourage and thank volunteers.
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