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…
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Family Ministry brochure from Hope Lutheran, Fond du Lac, WIRead more…
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“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…
How I Learned to Look Outward
It’s fall 2009. I’m in Loveland, Colorado, at a church volunteerism conference, with eager anticipation for many of the speakers and sessions. But there must have been a ‘dead’ hour, because I know I didn’t expect much from one particularRead more…
He’s Calling You
How many calls did you get yesterday, through phone or text or email? If you’re a Christian, you get one particular call every day — a call to serve. But you’re probably already serving at church, as volunteer or staff.Read more…
A Question: the Nominating Process
“I’ve got a question.” “I would like some ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ about nominating committees and the election process in churches. Also is it good for a pastor to serve on the nominating committee?” From an anonymous reader November 2012 ResponseRead more…
The Church has Left the Building
Imagine your sanctuary as it looks when people are worshipping on a typical Sunday. Now picture all those people leaving the building. But this time they’re not going home or out for brunch. Instead, they’re heading out to serve inRead more…