Does Your Team Of Volunteers Have Community And Culture?

The pressure kept mounting. I thought to myself, “I just need to get through Sunday. After Sunday, this will all go away.” While kicking off the year would bring relief, it would also bring more work. Fortunately, I have some volunteers who recognize when I’m going into hermit mode. They know that my grasp for control gets stronger as the deadlines approach. When this happens, they know to tell me, “I’ve got this.” and not just ask, “Do you need help?” Even after 16 years of ministry and a worldwide pandemic, I have to remind myself that church is impossible on your own.

One of the keys to a dynamic team is how well you know your team and how well they know you. The more that you can build up trust, the more you are going to get done. The reason so many of us struggle to recruit, maintain, and commission a team of leaders is because that team lacks COMMUNITY AND CULTURE.

To build a healthy team of volunteers takes time, and that’s because trust does not always happen overnight. Trust doesn’t merely come from serving together over a few weeks. It would be best if you were intentional about earning and sharing it. If you want a team that’s going to accelerate the growth of your ministry and support you when the pressure is great, then:

FOCUS ON RELATIONSHIPS

Your volunteers are people who have family, interests, and careers. The more you get to know about your volunteers, the easier it will be to work with them. I have one volunteer with a government job, and I know he isn’t going to respond to email during the day. Another one of my team members is a novice apiculturist. Every so often, she’s going to want to talk about her bees. There are so many interesting, odd, and personal facts about my team, and the more I get to know them, the more they feel valued by me.

At the same time, I want them to know that I love baking bread. It’s good for your team to know my wife Kate and my sons, Matthew and Benjamin. The more they get to know me, the more they see that I have a life outside of work. The byproduct is a deeper bond with your team, and it’s a culture that will pass on to your teens. A relational ministry starts with the team that is leading it.

INVEST AND ASSESS GIFTEDNESS

In addition to the interests your team has, many of them have gifts that could benefit your ministry. Some of them might be proficient in public speaking, organizational management, or decorating and design. Many times we miss these gifts because we’re too busy telling them about our ministry. We try to fit them into our roles that won’t always reveal their talents.

There are resources out there like the Called and Gifted Workshop from the Catherine of Siena Institute. But, if your budget can’t afford an extensive assessment, create your own. Start by asking your team the following questions:

• What do you do for a living?
• What do you most enjoy about your current job or career?
• What skills do you think are essential for your job?
• What hobbies or interests do you have?
• If you could have a second career or a job and not worry about pay, what would you do?

You can also go through 1 Corinthians 12 and review the gifts St. Paul describes. Ask your leaders to identify the gifts they relate to the most. Those skills and talents will support your ministry in a variety of ways. People will be able to pick up responsibilities that were holding you back from your abilities. Not only will you be able to do more, but people will start to see your ministry as an opportunity to invest in the skills, habits, and hobbies they enjoy.

NEVER FORGET ABOUT PRAYER AND DISCIPLESHIP

No matter the talent or fun, if your team does not know Christ, it will not last. Ministry is not about getting a job done. Serving in ministry isn’t just about impacting the next generation. Your ministry is also an opportunity for adults to get to know Christ. To strengthen their witness and ability to pour into the young church, you need to bring them together in prayer and find ways of growing their faith.

As their leader, you need to remind them that they cannot share what they do not have. While you can give them podcasts and books, go the extra mile by:

• Plugging them into faith-sharing groups
• Designing a retreat or day of reflection
• Checking in with their faith life

Partner them with other volunteers to pray together and do life with one another. Share with them scripture, mobile apps, and spiritual exercises that connect you further with God. The more they get to know God, the better they will pass the faith to those you are serving.

When you build a community that knows one another and a culture where Christ is at the center, you can do some amazing things. Teens and their families will start to notice the cohesiveness, and they’ll want to be a part of it. Other parishioners will want to join because they see the value of what you do.

How do you invest in the culture and community of your volunteers?