The vast majority of today’s pew sitters resist volunteering at their churches.
If your church resembles most, less than 20 percent of your congregation engages in any meaningful or regular volunteer service with the church.
This drives church leaders nuts. “What’s wrong with our people?” they ask. “What a bunch of lazy slackers! If only we had more people stepping up, we could really do some incredible ministry.”
But how does this situation look from the pew sitter’s perspective? Through my work with Church Volunteer Central, LifeServe, Lifetree Café, and my own personal volunteer experience, I’ve compiled a list of things that volunteers and potential volunteers wish their church leaders knew. Here you go:
THE VOLUNTEER’S MANIFESTO
1. “Know me enough to match my gifts, experience and passion with a volunteer position.” Nobody wants to just fill a slot. If you have something that energizes me, I’m in.
2. “Until I’m personally invited, I’ll just sit.” I ignore the cattle calls such as, “We need 10 Sunday school teachers. Sign up today.” Also, squelch the guilt trips, the threats, and the begging.
3. “Be clear in your expectations.” Give me a position description and a realistic term of service. I fear accepting a murky position that turns into a life sentence.
4. “Listen to me. Let me contribute. Let me lead.” Let us run with it, even if it’s not just how you would do it.
5. “Don’t waste my time.” I’m hyper-busy already. Schedule me only when you really need me. Don’t conduct endless meetings dragged out with long debates.
6. “Let me know we’re making a difference.” Tell the stories of God at work through our efforts. (A Lifetree Café director sends a weekly inspiring email to all volunteers, recounting how lives were touched that week.)
7. “Remember my needs too.” While I’m serving I also want to grow spiritually. Pray with me. Let me experience God. Help me meet and enjoy others. And, make it fun.
8. “Don’t burn me out.” Let me do the one or two things I’m passionate about. Overloading me with other stuff exhausts me, and causes me to look for relief—at another church.
9. “Coach me.” I want to do a good job. I want to improve. I welcome your tactful critique. Let me know what I’m doing well, and how I can get better.
10. “Thank me.” I don’t sign up in order to be thanked. But I’ll leave if I don’t feel appreciated. Just a sincere, personal, little note now and then keeps me going—much more than the annual volunteer potluck.
The volunteers are all around you–sitting, waiting to be inspired to serve.
Great, practical post. Thanks.
Some excellent thoughts. I think you are right on. The only thing I would like to address would be the term volunteer. I think when we use that term our people get the idea that they have a choice. Whereas as Christians we have no choice; we are called to be involved in building up the body. We need to communicate somehow that the individual is not doing us a favour by “volunteering” but they are actually following God’s command. They are not obligated to us personally, but they are obligated to God and His church. The problem is that I do not have a replacement title other then worker or server.
I like the word “VOLUNTEER”. They give freely of themselves, and they choose to do that for the love of our Lord.
How about “disciple”?
Rob, thanks for your insights. I understand your concern about the term volunteer. In fact, as we were establishing Church Volunteer Central, we had a huge internal debate about the word volunteer. We looked for an alternative word that everyone would understand. We tested different words with people. And, we found no alternate term that better communicated who we were describing. So, reluctantly, we named the organization Church Volunteer Central.
I’d love to find a term that is honoring–but also is easily understood. Any ideas?
I wish I had something that i felt comfortable with but I don’t other then individual designations like small group leader, teacher etc.. I think we
primarily use volunteer to differentiate between paid staff and non paid staff. Does anyone else out there have some ideas on this?
I made up a word (I think). Serventeer
sorry that was “servanteer” with an “a” not e
Absolutely awesome! You’re right on with the pew sitter’s thoughts!
Over a year ago we joined a different church. We attended membership class and received a Spiritual Gifts survey and a beautiful booklet outlining the various ministries in the church and opportunities to serve. I completed the survey, filled out the volunteer form indicating multiple areas where I was interested in serving and returned it all to the church office. I’ve yet to be contacted by anyone following up on my interest. A slick process of communicating volunteer needs to the church is useless if there is no one in place to close the deal.
Sorry to hear that Sarah, because there are a lot of needs in churches all over the world that would be excited to have help and would help you grow in the areas of interest. As a Pastor I would love to see that response.
I also hope you’ll remind them of your interest. Even church staff consists of humans who make mistakes! This would be an excellent opportunity to educate them on how their procedure is working as well.
Thom,
This is an excellent, excellent dialogue. You have both called the church to a higher level of equipping and challenged the status quo of those within its walls.
-John
Thom: Just thinking allowed here
I wonder how size and local context would impact this process
Having been in mega and very small churches we have seen
very different processes used to recruit, train, deploy, monitor, and nurture
team members
Interesting. Which of the 10 Manifesto points would not work in a small or a large church?
2. “Until I’m personally invited, I’ll just sit.” I ignore the cattle calls such as, “We need 10 Sunday school teachers. Sign up today.” Also, squelch the guilt trips, the threats, and the begging.
The use of “gifts tests” in the assimilation process is probably the best way to bring folks from the 80% watching to the 20% engaged.
Some days it seems more like 95% and 5% ;0)
The crowd that flows though these large attraction based churches on Sunday AMs can unfortunately become a river of unknown faces to the staff and key volunteers. Finding a way to know folk well enough to be able to ask the recruit question becomes the
mission.
I am now exploring other very different models of church life having
“been there done that”
I had to chuckle when I read “Just thinking ALLOWED here.” I realize you meant “aloud” (I think!), but when I read your post, I could only picture your comment as meaning that we must “think” and that only THAT is “allowed.” 🙂
Very true! I think this is very important. If you follow this manifesto there should be no trouble getting members to volunteer.
I have been leading a “volunteer “ministry in a church of 5000 attenders for 6 years. No matter what I do to get the other 90 percent involved…they do not serve because their lives are too full of the world attractions …jobs,kids,playing sports,watching sports,vacations,tired,
we are a society that seems to fill every waking moment with “stuff’……. most of the stuff has no real meaning!!!
As the new Ministry Facilitator (Volunteer Coordinator) of my church, and with my own experience as a volunteer,
I will need all the help I can get. The Volunteer’s Manifesto has some great points. Thanks and keep them coming.
I think this is great for Christian based jobs also. But, here is my question…is a church the only place our volunteering “counts” for God? Is that 85% volunteering anywhere? Or do we not care that God’s work may be taking place outside the doors of a church?
I had similar situation as Sarah. I had just moved into a new town and church and was eager to help out after serving for several years as a youth group leader. Repeatedly let the persons in charge of student ministries that I would like help in any of the age brackets (middle school, high school or college). After months of showing up to various events but given no actual role, I started working with the elementary ministry, where the director was spot on in not only finding interested people, but then worked with them to find te best spot for them to help out.
We use the term “partner-in-ministry” or “partner” instead of volunteer. Basically we are all partnering together to get God’s work done – my team loves it.