I’ve Got a Question “From our database we can run a report finding that 590 people are currently assigned to a position. In order to get the percentage of people serving, what number do I compare that to? Should IRead more…
Stories: God’s, Mine, Yours and Others’
The Bible is one long story, the true story of God calling and caring for his people the Jews, God becoming human and dying, and God working among the early Christians. God’s story continues today. He continues to call, redeemRead more…
Smiles of St. Peter
(Editor’s note: This article was written by Diana Broj. It profiles a ministry that not only is interesting and fun, it also builds a positive culture of serving by highlighting ministry opportunities, the people who serve and are being served,Read more…
Lord, What are You Calling Me to Do?
Life is full of decisions, big and small. Shall I homeschool my children? Can we afford the time and cost of Jamie being on that elite sports team? Shall I look for a new job? What career is best forRead more…
Simple Volunteering
Life is complicated. Life is stressful. Your employer wants you to squeeze more work into the same hours, the kids need help with their homework, your elderly relative needs your assistance, and there are important papers somewhere in that pileRead more…
In the Store: Putting Spiritual Gifts to Work
Putting Spiritual Gifts to Work: Equipping Saints for Service is a short book (80 pages) by Karen Kogler. It’s available in The Equipper store in two versions: Electronic version: as a download; $8.00 Print version: mailed to you, with aRead more…
DO Something with that Interesting Article
If you’re like me, you like to read, you like to learn and you care about the topics you chose to read about. If you’re really like me, when you read a great article on an interesting topic–church volunteerism, forRead more…
Hungry for Relationships
It’s no secret. People need people. They crave relationships. Sociologists, psychologists and theologians agree that they always have and always will. The need has become acute as hectic schedules, geographic mobility, consumerism and affluence pull us apart from others. Ironically,Read more…
What can I do? I’m just a volunteer.
“Our church really needs help. We just keep trying harder to recruit volunteers and it isn’t getting better. I think equipping people to serve is a great idea and would really help. But our leaders don’t ‘get it.’ And whatRead more…
Volunteering as We Age
Growing old. It isn’t for wimps. In my middle-age years, I experience the indignities of my body changing without my permission. More significantly, I watch and try to help my parents who can no longer do some things they’ve alwaysRead more…
So, What do YOU do?
The next time you see a group of church volunteers, ask them each to tell you what they do at church. They’ll likely answer with comments like these: “I usher . . .,” “I teach Sunday School . . .,”Read more…
Conversation Starters
Start a conversation about volunteering/working for the Lord. What do people really think about serving? What good and bad experiences have they had? What would they really like to do? We’re often too busy ‘doing,’ and too caught up inRead more…
Mary the Servant
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary responded to Gabriel’s announcement. “Let it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). With these words, Mary accepted not only an honor, but also a task – mother of the Messiah. WithRead more…
The Chip (ministry conversations)
A church ministry fair has both major benefits and side benefits. At a ministry fair, each of the church’s various ministries set up and man a table with information on their ministry. People browse the tables, seeing what the variousRead more…
Go for the Gold
The Olympics are taking place: the stirring Olympic trumpet fanfare is heard, the five interlocking circles are displayed, and athletes are in the spotlight. Hence, today’s Equipper offers random thoughts regarding Olympic athletes and Christians serving together in the church.Read more…