Convocation of Association of Conference Directors of Lay Servant Ministries Saturday, January, 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 No More Volunteers! Reclaiming Christian

Convocation of Association of Conference Directorsof Lay Servant Ministries

Saturday, January, 24 from 1:30 to 3:30

No More Volunteers!Reclaiming Christian Servanthood

It is getting harder and harder to find people with the time, skills, energy and inclination to volunteer at church.

Join us to discuss a whole new way of looking at this issue. We will explore the biblical imperative of serving and learn a radically different approach for finding, recruiting and motivating people to serve!

Have you ever heard this?

“No one volunteers anymore”

“No one volunteers anymore”

“Doesn’t anyone care

about our church?”

“Doesn’t anyone care

about our church?”

“People are just too busy to volunteer these

days.”

“People are just too busy to volunteer these

days.”

“Why do I have to do it ALL?”

“Why do I have to do it ALL?”

“How can we teach and model the biblical

understanding of Christian servanthoo

d?”

“How can we teach and model the biblical

understanding of Christian servanthoo

d?”

“How can we lead in a way that offers our

busy church members meaningful and

realistic opportunities to serve?”

“How can we lead in a way that offers our

busy church members meaningful and

realistic opportunities to serve?”

Ask the RIGHT Questions

“Why don’t

people volunteer

at our church?”“Why don’t

people volunteer

at our church?”

VOLUNTEERS

SERVANTS

Must move from. . .

to. . .

Paradigm Shift

John 13: 1 - 17

“Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and

Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done

for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these

things, you will be blessed if you do them.”

The Biblical Witness is Clear

1) Jesus served

Luke 22:27

“But I am among you as one who serves.”

Mark 10:43-45

“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever

wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be

served, but to serve. . .”


1) Jesus served2) Jesus taught that his followers should serve

John 12:26

“Whoever serves me must follow me; and

where I am my servant also will be.”

Philippians 2:3-4“Do nothing out of selfish

ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others

better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but

also to the interests of others.”


1) Jesus served2) Jesus taught that his followers should serve3) God has provided everyone with gifts for

serving1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There

are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of

working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”

Ephesians 4:11-13“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some

to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the

body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”



serving4) We should facilitate the service of others

1 Peter 4:10“Each one should use whatever gift he

or she has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in

its various forms.”

Hebrews 10:24

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on

toward love and good deeds,”



serving4) We should facilitate the service of others5) When we serve others, we serve Jesus

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for people, since you know that you will

receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Ephesians 6:7“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.”



serving4) We should facilitate the service of others5) When we serve others, we serve Jesus6) When we serve, we are blessed

John 12:26“If any person would

serve me, let that person follow me; and

where I am there shall also my servant

be; if any person serve me, that person

will the Father honor.”

1 Peter 5: 5“And all of you, serve

each other in humility, for

‘God opposes the proud but

favors the humble.’”

Galatians 6:9“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”




Rather than simply doing good works, Christians

are defined by their

obedience to the Savior.

To facilitate the blessing of serving, church leaders must move from

Doing orFilling jobs

providing opportunities for Christians to act

upon &

deepen their faith

How?

At your tables, describe & discuss the most successful service opportunity that you have been involved with.

What factors contributed to making it so successful?

Group Activity

No More Volunteers!

Reclaiming Christian Servanthood

7 Empowering

Imperatives

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSE

Tasks

Facts

Goals

Mission

Call

Church leaders must faithfully remember and

communicate the context of a task’s HOLY PURPOSE. WHY

WHYWHYWHY

WHATWHATWHATWHAT

HOWHOWHOWHOW

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Constantly Develop Interest Pool

Who has the interest?Who has the heart?Who has the skills?

Leaders facilitate the service of others by actively finding servants with a passion for the ministry.


Consistently conduct activities & conversations to ascertain who has the interest/heart/skills for ministry area.

Constantly maintain a list of people who have shown interest in particular ministry areas.


Where do we look for Servants?

People should not have to earn the right to

serve

At your tables, discuss other ways to connect with people and develop interest pools.

Group Activity

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS

All jobs can be broken into

various sized, manageable

tasks that are more realistic

for today’s potential servants.

Example: “Day in the Country”

PromotionChildren’s

Games

Mission

Interpretation

Food &

DrinkEntertainmentVendors

On Site

Logistics

the impact grows exponentially!

Research

bands

Contract with

bands

Tickets

Advertising

Signage

Design

Signage

Distribution

Media

Contact

Food

Flea Market

Craft Booths

Petting Zoo

Bounce

Games

Prizes

Carnival

Games

Slideshow

Information

Booth

Community

Relationship

Mission

Sign-Ups

Ticket

System

Cashiers

Food

Signage

Premises

Map

Directory

Electricity

Parking

Restrooms

Information

BoothsWhen ministry responsibilities are broken down into many opportunities to serve,

Example: “Day in the Country”

PromotionChildren’s

Games

Mission

Interpretation

Food &

DrinkEntertainmentVendors

On Site

Logistics

Food

Donations

Keys to success:

Clarity of outcomes & expectations

Keys to success:

Clarity of outcomes & expectations

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS

Design commitment to

be

TIME BOXED

Proverbs 3:1

“There is a time for

everything, and a season

for every activity under

heaven.”

People will no longer make perpetual commitments.

Commitments must have a start & an end.

Think in terms of ‘seasons’.

Youth Choir (every Wednesday night)Youth Choir (every Wednesday night)

Bell ConcertBell Concert

Youth Choir (every Wednesday night)Youth Choir (every Wednesday night)

Christmas ConcertChristmas ConcertSummer Choir TourSummer Choir TourSenior HomeConcert

Senior HomeConcert

Think of a commitment in your church today that is ‘daunting’. Discuss & determine ways to frame that

commitment into a set of distinct time-boxed opportunities.

Group Activity

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS


be

TIME BOXED

Prepare & deliver a

COMPELLING

ASK

“ASKS” should always . . .

• Be sincere• Be personal• Be connected with HOLY PURPOSE• Include clear explanation of desired outcome• Be time boxed (in a season)

Deliver Compelling Ask

“Compelling

ASK”

Effectiveness of Recruitment Practices

Effe

ctiv

ene

ss

Difficulty

pulpit announcements

mass email

personal email

announcements

face-to-face

sign up sheets

personal letter

form letter

bulletin announcements

website

personal phone call

Use the methods that get the best response rather than the easiest to execute.

personal voicemail

Developing & Deliveringa compelling ASK

takes Advance Preparation

1. best fit?2. impact?3. setting?4. practice!

Develop & discuss a compelling ASK for someone to be a Lay Servant in your conference.

Group Activity

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS


be

TIME BOXED

Prepare & deliver a

COMPELLING

ASK

Less training

MOREEXPLAINING

Less Training – More Explaining

Provide ministry shepherds for questionsProvide on-the-job opportunitiesProvide shadowing experiences

Keep it Simple!

No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS


be

TIME BOXED

Prepare & deliver a

COMPELLING

ASK

Less training

MOREEXPLAINING

Remember to

DEBRIEF &

CELEBRATE

Debrief to Learn

≠ “How did it go?”

Debrief to Learn & Adjust

“Did the work feel meaningful?” “How did this ministry help you to grow in your faith?” “Was your emotional energy high or low?” “Did you get to know someone?” “Would you like to serve in this capacity again?” “What would make your experience even more meaningful?” “What do you want to try next?”

Celebrate!

Which conversation most effectively communicates your appreciation?

Nice job!Nice job!

Let’s give our volunteers a big round of

applause!

Let’s give our volunteers a big round of

applause!

Your work in our nursery is exactly what we need. You greet everyone with

joy & you confidently interact with the

children. The parents feel that their children are treasured & well

cared for. Thank you for all your work with the babies of our church &

community!

Your work in our nursery is exactly what we need. You greet everyone with

joy & you confidently interact with the

children. The parents feel that their children are treasured & well

cared for. Thank you for all your work with the babies of our church &

community!You are so good with

kids.

You are so good with

kids.

Being specific with praise lets

people know that they are

valued & vital

to the ministries of the church

VOLUNTEERS

SERVANTS

Must move from. . .

to. . .

Paradigm Shift




No More Volunteers!


7 Empowering

Imperatives

Connect to the

HOLY

PURPOSEConstantly

develop

INTEREST

POOL

Break job into

REALISTIC

COMMITMENTS


be

TIME BOXED

Prepare & deliver a

COMPELLING

ASK

Less training

MOREEXPLAINING

Remember to

DEBRIEF &

CELEBRATE

No More Volunteers!


Questions &

Reflections

Documents

Convocation of Association of Conference Directors of Lay Servant Ministries Saturday, January, 24 from 1:30 to 3:30 No More Volunteers! Reclaiming Christian