Good stuff from the United Kingdom: a short and to-the-point (and free!) downloadable guide on motivating volunteers; part of a series on guides on volunteerism basics. Although not specifically geared toward church volunteers, virtually all of it applies in churchRead more…
Good stuff: Fighting Against Ignorance
Is there a particular ignorance in church volunteerism so dangerous that we should ‘pick up our swords’ and fight against it? Susan Ellis shows how thoughtlessness, ignorance and arrogance devalues volunteers in non-profit organizations in her recent Hot Topic: “FightingRead more…
The Great Commission in Reverse
(Thanks to guest author Alice Klement for this post. –KK) “Go into all the world” becomes “Go to the world in your community” Jesus commanded his followers to go into all the world to teach, baptize, and make disciples. InRead more…
In My Living Room? A Cross-Cultural Confession
Thanks to guest author Alice Klement for this post. –KK “It’s hard for people to believe we want them in Heaven if we don’t want them in our living room.” –Ralph D. Winter, missionary Ouch. This quote hit me betweenRead more…
Good Stuff: About Stories
Fascinating science: What happens in your brain when you hear a story, and what happens in your brain AND someone else’s when you tell them a story: http://tinyurl.com/lzhndll. When you want people to serve at church, tell a story!
They ARE Volunteering
You know who volunteers in your church. But do you really know the volunteering behavior of all your people? “A new federal study shows that 1 in 4 Americans volunteered through an organization and two-thirds helped their neighbors last year.”Read more…
Family_Min_bro_Fondulac
Family Ministry brochure from Hope Lutheran, Fond du Lac, WIRead more…
wall_faith_secular_vol
“The Wall Between Faith-Based and Secular Volunteering: Is it Time to Chip Away at the Barrier?” by Karen Kogler, from the journal e-Volunteerism, vol 7, issue 3, April-June 2008Read more…
Disciples in First Century
Disciples in the First Century, thesis by Karen KoglerRead more…
Paid or Volunteer?
Paid or Volunteer? What work is done by staff at your church? What work is done by volunteers? Usually, the line between the two is pretty clear. Some positions (pastor, secretary) are filled by employees. Others (Sunday school teacher, usher)Read more…
Everyday Equipping: What’s Your Score?
Everyday Equipping: What’s Your Score? You have more influence on volunteerism in your church than you think. We all do. Even those of us not in a position of authority, with no leadership gifts or inclinations; we influence others. OfRead more…
Mapping the Church
“Where is your church?” I could answer that question by telling you my church is in Arlington Heights, Illinois, in Chicago’s northwest suburbs. But I’d rather answer it by showing you the three large maps on a wall in ourRead more…
Going to the Dogs?
I’m not a dog person. Due to family allergies, we never owned a dog, much to my sons’ disappointment and my relief. But now my church owns a dog. Last November, in a “passing of the leash” ceremony, we receivedRead more…
Screening Our Volunteers
Two years ago I wrote “Protecting People and Ministry” on how our church, St. Peter Lutheran in Arlington Heights, Illinois, created volunteer screening policies as part of a risk management plan. Implementation took longer than expected, but it taught usRead more…
The Power of Stories
Are you a storyteller? Of course you are. We all are. We naturally share the stories of what’s going on in our lives – the illness, the home improvement project, the cute thing the grandchild did! Stories are part ofRead more…