The Equipper Newsletter
September 1, 2011
Churches Equipping Saints for Service
   
 
 
  How to Eat an Elephant
 
 
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. So goes an old joke, making the point that even the biggest of tasks can be accomplished with first one step, then another and another . . .

Changing a church's volunteerism system and culture is a task so big it makes eating an elephant sound easy. Most of us who care about healthy volunteerism must face the reality of a recruiting-oriented culture, where the focus is on filling empty ministry slots and pressuring people to serve. We dream about an equipping culture, where people are aided in finding a place to serve that matches their gifts and interests, even if it's outside the standard church ministries, and where people are supported throughout their time of service.

How do we get from here to there? With baby steps, inviting others to join you. Whether you do it as a leader or simply as someone who cares, you can make a difference. Here's how. (click to continue)


 
  Good Stuff
 
  1. Whether or not you're a fan of Facebook, many people certainly are. If we're not using social media tools to communicate, we're limiting our audience. See JJ Fixler's report on new study results on "Using Facebook to Meet Your Mission."

  2. Thinking about volunteer management software? Read the preview to "A Consumer's Guide to Volunteer Management Software." No church software programs are included in this study, its guidelines and standards can help in your search.

  3. More and more churches are initiating "day of service" events in which a variety of serving options in the community are offered on a particular Saturday morning, for example. "How to Turn a Single Day of Service into Lasting Impact" highlights an organization that added a new -- and effective -- twist.
 
 
  Karen's blogs
 
 
Use one of these for a devotion at a team meeting; send one with your personal comments as an encouragement to a friend or co-worker.
 

 
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The Equipper Newsletter published monthly by
Karen Kogler, Equipper Church Volunteerism Resources