04 November 2008

Delivering on a Promise - Part 2

Continuing from earlier...

Key Learning #2: Sometimes we may need to create additional ministry opportunities when we are running short on volunteers.
  • As counter-intuitive as this may sound at first read, think about this. Is the role we are trying to fill too complex or time-intensive? Is the role we are trying to fill able to be taken on by someone with a full-time job, family, and possibly other community involvement? If yes, then try "chunking it" into smaller pieces.
  • By breaking up a ministry job description into two or even three smaller pieces, you may find that you have more than enough volunteers to fill those smaller roles when you could not find anyone willing to take on the whole enchilada.
  • Therefore, if you currently have 20 volunteer slots to fill and 15 people have already accepted the invitation to serve with you, but you just can't seem to get the last five filled. Perhaps you need to break the last five opportunities into 10 or 12 opportunities in order to make the ministry opportunities more manageable for people who could not commit to your previous job descriptions.
  • BTW, a great by-product of this method of "chunking" is more people serving in the church! And isn't that what ministry leaders should be doing anyway?

Ok, those are my top learnings! I know that KarlaR has some thoughts she would like to share, so maybe she will agree to guest blog later this week!

3 comments:

Karla Rush said...

The other cool thing about "chunking it" is that those "multiple volunteers" have the opportunity to be involved in a small group (or tribe) that shares a common goal...it just makes sense. I also like the idea that we ALL should be looking for ways to invite more people to become involved in the ministries of our church.

Later this week, I would be happy to share what I learned in my workshop on first impressions! Thanks for the opportunity!

Stephanie Parsley Ledyard said...

That's the way I've best gotten to know people at church -- from working side by side with them on some small project. It's an efficient combination of social, spiritual and service. Because I have a child, I appreciate small-ish (but still important or meaningful) opportunities that don't take me away from home for too long.

Karla, looking forward to your info!

Rev_DeanL said...

@KR - I truly believe that "elbow evangelism" is, by far, the most effective way for new people to be brought into the church - either for worship or for a service opportunity.

@Steph - Discipleship happens in small groups - whether those groups are studying scripture, building a Habitat house, or organizing a church-wide event. When life-on-life contact happens and real sharing happens, that is when God shows up in profound ways. It's pretty cool!