Googling will get you thousands of articles on healthy church volunteerism, and most are worthwhile. This is my curated list of specifically church-focused resources, and especially useful secular volunteerism sources. Church-specific TheEquipper.org is my website, created to encourage churches to intentionallyRead more…
Take Courage, You Who Wait
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! Psalm 31:24 We often find ourselves in ‘wait’ mode–waiting for relief from illness or fears or loneliness or crushing problems. The frail elderly may simplyRead more…
More Intentional (& Less Crazy) Everyday Serving
Ever feel like you’re too busy? Frazzled by all your responsibilities at home and work? Many of us do. It’s the reality that keeps many of us from volunteering, from giving back, from serving others as much as we’d likeRead more…
More Joyful (& Less Dreary) Everyday Serving
Have you noticed how often products are marketed using images of joy, fun and celebration? Advertisers know we all could use–and desperately want–more happiness and joy in our lives. But happiness is fleeting. It comes and goes based on ourRead more…
More Impactful (& Less Ho Hum) Everyday Serving
“I want to make a difference!” This is why many of us volunteer. It’s a good reason and it applies to all the serving we do, in our homes and work places as well as our communities and churches. ServingRead more…
More Faith-Full (& Less Disjointed) Everyday Serving
Is serving in the church more important than volunteering outside the church? Is it more God-pleasing? What’s the difference between volunteering and serving? These questions all assume that our life of faith is separate from our ‘regular’ or daily life.Read more…
How to Write Great Recruitment Copy
Words have power. Words can stir our emotions and those emotions drive our actions. But if this is true, why don’t the words in our newsletter announcements bring us the volunteers we want and need? Compare the time, money andRead more…
Creating Volunteer Roles
Want more volunteers in your church? Consider creating new volunteer roles. Just because people aren’t signing up for publicized volunteer needs doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to give their time and talent to opportunities that match their skills, interests andRead more…
Refreshing
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. Acts 30:19-20a As I check those little dates printed on food packages, I sometimes wonder ifRead more…
Gifts and the Giver
You know [the Spirit of truth], for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 15:17b An old and scarred drop-leaf table, some delicate pink plates, an earring tree and a small serviceable saucepan are among my favoriteRead more…
Cheer Up! On Your Feet! He’s Calling You!
He was poor and blind. But not stupid. He was a beggar, poor and blind. But not stupid. Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) figured out Jesus was nearby and he knew Jesus could heal. He was also persistent and could be bothersome.Read more…
Are You Hungry?
“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2:2-3 In church circles, you’re likely to hear about theRead more…
How Relational is Your Serving?
When serving, balance matters. When asked to volunteer, you weigh and balance the time and effort involved against the time and effort you’re already giving at home, at work, and elsewhere. You also might balance your short-term serving against ongoingRead more…
Who, me?
We in Chicagoland are enjoying the fact that the new pope, Leo XIV, grew up here. But what sticks with me from the papal transition is a painting. After the death of Pope Francis, I read that his favorite paintingRead more…
Serving in an Election: Part 2, Affirming Best Practices
I recently served as a worker in a local election — a new experience for me, and one I hope to repeat. My main take-away, detailed in Part 1, was how much it taught me about my community. But IRead more…