I read articles and stories all the time about church staff, how to hire staff, how to keep staff, how to lead staff, and how to equip staff.
The truth is, most of the people church staff are working with are volunteers. Small-group leaders, deacons, trustees, band members, Awana leaders, Upward leaders - they're all unpaid volunteers. Churches are mostly structures of volunteers.
We've all heard the false statement: "You have to run a church like a business." What separates a church from a business is volunteers. Do you go volunteer at your local Wal-Mart? Yes, businesses and churches must receive income, manage their money and maintain a budget.
Churches can function and even grow with an army of volunteers. Here are three things I've learned from volunteers:
1). Volunteers do not like set-up, clean-up. They expect the church staff or custodial staff to prepare for/clean-up after them. If they're giving you 1-2 hours of their time, they don't want to vacuum the floor or take out the trash. A volunteer wants to arrive, serve and leave. Prior/post organization encourages more volunteerism.
2). If a volunteer becomes excited about something and wants to do something new in the church, encourage them. As long as the new ministry fits with the plan and purpose of the church, the volunteer should be equipped and prepared for the job. I've discovered when someone is excited about something - they'll put more time, effort and their own finances to see it succeed.
3). Volunteers thrive in structure. Remember, a volunteer doesn't attend the weekly church staff meetings, nor do they know who works under who. They do want to know when they have a question or an issue, whom should they speak with. When a volunteer wants or needs something, the staff should see to it that their need is met. Bureaucracy makes volunteers want to quit.
The truth is, most of the people church staff are working with are volunteers. Small-group leaders, deacons, trustees, band members, Awana leaders, Upward leaders - they're all unpaid volunteers. Churches are mostly structures of volunteers.
We've all heard the false statement: "You have to run a church like a business." What separates a church from a business is volunteers. Do you go volunteer at your local Wal-Mart? Yes, businesses and churches must receive income, manage their money and maintain a budget.
Churches can function and even grow with an army of volunteers. Here are three things I've learned from volunteers:
1). Volunteers do not like set-up, clean-up. They expect the church staff or custodial staff to prepare for/clean-up after them. If they're giving you 1-2 hours of their time, they don't want to vacuum the floor or take out the trash. A volunteer wants to arrive, serve and leave. Prior/post organization encourages more volunteerism.
2). If a volunteer becomes excited about something and wants to do something new in the church, encourage them. As long as the new ministry fits with the plan and purpose of the church, the volunteer should be equipped and prepared for the job. I've discovered when someone is excited about something - they'll put more time, effort and their own finances to see it succeed.
3). Volunteers thrive in structure. Remember, a volunteer doesn't attend the weekly church staff meetings, nor do they know who works under who. They do want to know when they have a question or an issue, whom should they speak with. When a volunteer wants or needs something, the staff should see to it that their need is met. Bureaucracy makes volunteers want to quit.
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