They Work for Free
I posted an article today at Rev Unplugged on church volunteers. Would you be willing to hop over there for a visit, and maybe leave a comment?
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If This Is Not A Place. . .
If this is not a place where tears are understood, Then where shall I go to cry? And if this is not a place where my spirit can take wings, Then where shall I go to fly? I don't need another place for trying to impress you With just how good and virtuous I am. I don't need another place for always being on top of things; Everybody knows that it's a sham. I don't need another place for always wearing smiles, Even when it's not the way I feel. I don't need another place to mouth the same old platitudes; Everybody knows that it's not real. So if this is not a place where my questions can be asked, Then where shall I go to seek? And if this is not a place where my heart cry can be heard, Where, tell me where, shall I go to speak? So if this is not a place where tears are understood, Where shall I go, where shall I go to fly? -- Ken Medema
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Involvement is the KEY to commitment. Everyone should feel he/she is needed, appreciated, loved, wanted and respected.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, especially in small churches, jobs (like pews) have names engraved on them. There is an attitude...'You can volunteer to do any job in the church, but don't take mine!' The main duty of a mature Christian holding a desirable job should be to MENTOR a new person to the point where he/she is able to do the job. Upon surrendering his/her job, the mature Christian would get great joy out of the fact that the new volunteer is doing a better job. Then the cycle repeats itself.
Churches tend to carry the same attitude of the Pastor, his staff, and the Church board. If these leaders are lazy and continue to say...'It's not my job!' (especially of tasks they deem small and unimportant), then this same attitude permeates the entire Church body.
Amen to Linda!
ReplyDeleteIn a struggling church, I have seen volunteers, with a humble spirit, given jobs and when God blesses the ministry through the volunteers and then the church starts to thrive, the attitude of the church improves. Then the self-appointed bosses of the church become jealous of the new volunteers. Instead of being supportive, the bosses become critical. Bosses use their control to do away with the volunteers' new ministry.
Church bosses goes out of their way to appoint family and close friends to jobs of importance or paid positions. Any inquiries by new members are deemed unchristian.
These previously enthusiastic new volunteers for God become discouraged and eventually stop attending church. The new volunteers then associate all christians as self-righeous, holier than thou individuals with their halos on too tight. These controlling christian bosses have become so heavenly-minded that they are of no worldly good in reaching people for Christ. The new volunteers take on the attitude that they don't need a church to worship God.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you seem so hurt from your experience with a 'sick' church. Do not let this experience keep you from serving God in your everyday world. God is everywhere.