Has your ministry become a ball & chain?

In the past several weeks I know of two individuals who had reached the point where they wanted to back away from the volunteer positions they had held for almost two years. In talking with them, I got the sense that they felt guilty for wanting to back out, yet circumstances in their lives were necessitating the change. I think their example is typical of most volunteers, but I think we need to modify our perspective.

Volunteer positions are not lifetime commitments. I oversee several volunteer positions that require a substantial amount of hours on a weekly basis. I attempt to talk with those volunteers at least once a year about whether their ministry interests are still in the role they are filling currently. At times I even ask blunty if they are tired of their role.

Ministry leaders need to accept that the interests, schedules and commitments of volunteers change and change quite frequently. If a father suddenly realizes that he's overcommitted his time to the point that he has little time to spend with his family, we have to support, if not encourage him to scale back. And if he decides that his church responsibility is one of the cuts, we should praise him for making the choice.

Volunteers need to recognize the same point from a different perspective. If they reach an overcommited state, they need to reevaluate. If they determine that their church responsibility is one of the cuts, they shouldn't feel guilty - it's part of life.

Which is my first priority, to be a husband or to be a Business Manager? My first priority is to be a husband. I understand that my Business Manager responsibility is important and that I'm obligated to meet the standards in my job description. Hopefully, I am able to plan and manage both responsibilities that I maintain the priorities in order while serving both roles with excellence. But if ever I fail in that regard and am unable to regain the balance, the Business Manager responsibilities would have to go. Yeah, that would be a tough choice since I love what I do. And yes, I feel God has lead me to that role, but I am convinced He views my role as a husband to be greater than my role as a Business Manager. The same is true of volunteers. While God can and often does do amazing things through our ministries and therefore through volunteers, He is first and foremost concerned about our responsibilities to our family. Volunteers should not feel guilty when they decide they will no longer serve. In addition to time commitments, there are other reasons volunteers may need to consider getting out of a ministry.

Volunteer positions are best filled by people who have a passion for that role. Out of desperation we often fill needs with anyone we can find, but in the long run that approach denegrades the ministry of the church and the quality of life of the individual. It's a huge challenge, but as ministry leaders, I think we need to resist our desperate need to fill holes until we feel we have the right people for the responsibility. It's not fair to the volunteer, to the ministry or to those to whom we are trying to minister.

My hope is that the ministries of Grace Church are comprised of volunteers who are in roles they love and have their priorities in order - and that we as a staff/as a church fully support and encourage one another as we change roles and positions. Don't let your ministry become a ball & chain.