Why Volunteers are Essential to the Church

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for our perspective to get out of whack?

I experience this a lot in parenting. Sometimes I get so focused on doing things around the house to take care of my family that I miss the most important moments.

It’s being so focused on knocking out the dishes (taking care of the family) and missing the moment where my daughter just wants me to put the dishes down and read her a book. It’s those times they want me to just sit and watch a movie, but I am busy paying the bills.

The point is I can easily miss the most important thing going on in my house because I am busy taking care of the house.

If we are not careful, that will become the story of the Church.

As leaders it is far too easy to be busy doing good work and actually miss the work of God happening among us here and now. 

You see it is really easy to invite people to come make a difference (volunteer) and miss the difference that is being made within them as they volunteer. Our volunteer efforts are meant to be a primary vehicle for our personal and spiritual growth.  (click to share on IG)

We can miss this fact because we are busy, or because we have our attention on the next thing.  When we as leaders focus too closely on the pressure we feel or the need that exists we distort our perspective.  Under pressure we can manipulate volunteering into something it is not. Inviting people to volunteer is not about getting things done, it is about helping people grow closer to Jesus.

How do we change from who we are to the person we are created to be? Conventional wisdom says knowledge is power – the more a person knows the more they will change. But if information and knowledge were the key than access to Google and an iPhone would have already made this world a better place.

While we have a great capacity to learn and understand, growth does not come from the amount of content we consume but through transformation as we serve others.

So, whether you are a leader or a contributing member of a team – pay attention to the great work of transformation happening around you right now. Some of the biggest internal work is happening in the hearts and minds of volunteers as they greet, park cars, teach kids or run production equipment.

That important work you want to be a part of? It isn’t just what is happening through you, it is the work of God happening within you.