Help Your Volunteers Grow

Imagine you’re riding a bicycle, and you’re building up a little speed—maybe huffing and puffing a bit. Then you decide to stop pedaling and just roll along. As you catch your breath, you think to yourself, This is a fun ride!

But by the time you finish that thought, you’re slowing down. You’re still moving along, but you’re already losing momentum. The only way to keep momentum is to keep pedaling.

Now translate this story to your volunteers. Yes, you want them to enjoy the ride. But you also want them to keep pedaling and experiencing momentum. They don’t have to set speed records or pop wheelies, but you want to help them keep moving and growing.

I think of three action words associated with growing volunteers. The first two words— develop and entrust—are things you can do. The third is the result—thrive.

1. Develop volunteers as people. They are more than the spots they fill. Learn about their personal backgrounds, as well as their talents and abilities What makes them smile? When was the last time you prayed for them by name?

We often get seduced into thinking that paperwork, planning, and policies are most important in leadership. Do these items need attention? Of course. But a great leader finds the balance between managing tasks and developing people. Relationships are your number one asset.

2. Entrust volunteers with responsibility. When volunteers take ownership in their roles and responsibilities, they will become more passionate about serving. Remember, passionate doesn’t mean perfect. People can’t strengthen a muscle if they never get to exercise it. At first, the muscle might be weak or uncoordinated, but it will gain strength and ability with every opportunity

To boost your confidence and theirs, help volunteers discover their spiritual gifts. You can refer them to a website like SpiritualGiftsTest.com for a free assessment. Learning how God has uniquely gifted them will foster the use of their gifts and help you delegate more effectively

Ephesians 4 is one of several passages of Scripture that talk about spiritual gifts and their purpose. Entrust your volunteers with the opportunity to put their gifts into practice, and they’ll grow!

3. Thrive in ministry together. When you develop your volunteers and entrust them with responsibility toward a common goal, the whole team thrives. The parts of the body of Christ work together to do more than one part could ever do alone.

Here’s why it is so crucial to develop volunteers: The health of your ministry will never exceed the health of the people who are on your team. Make sure your volunteers are drinking deep from God’s Word and enjoying a vibrant relationship with Jesus so they can help kids and families do the same. The ripple effects of Living Water are what the kingdom of God is all about.

This article is excerpted from our free mini book, Growing Volunteers. Grab yours at MinistrySpark.com/resources

by Byron Ragains