My BIG Beef with the Word ‘JUST’ – Appreciating Volunteers in April

“I’m just a volunteer.” You may use this phrase in a number of different contexts, but in every single instance, the word ‘just’ should be stricken from the sentence. In fact, the consequences of uttering the word ‘just’ when used before the word ‘volunteer’, is actually hurting our church communities.

First, it supports an unhealthy model of staff dependency. After all, many churches expect the program staff to be the primary “doers” of the ministry since they are the ones being paid. These churches are missing a key to a thriving ministry: a program staff person whose primary responsibilities are to equip, empower, and encourage volunteers.

It also gives the volunteer an easy out. If a volunteer has the perspective that he or she is just a volunteer, one may be less inclined to live into his or her role by not fulfilling obligations. If given the chance to show up for a church meeting or enjoy the first sunny, 75-degree day in the spring, such people could very well blow off their church commitment. After all, they’re just volunteers.

April is National Volunteer Appreciation Month, and I was looking up images to use for this post. I found many phrases that boasted, “Volunteers Make a Difference.” I don’t believe that. In actuality, volunteers make THE difference. They aren’t “just” anything. They are almost EVERYTHING.  So next time, think twice about referring to yourself or someone else as “just a volunteer.”

What are some cultural dynamics you think contribute to the ‘just’ mentality?  And what can we do about it?

From One Roll to the Next

Evidence of shoddy work, resulting from a lack of know-how

In his book, Sustainable Youth Ministry, Mark DeVries explains that there are three distinct roles filled by different people in thriving ministries: the Architect, the General Contractor, and the Skilled Craftsperson. It’s important that each role is filled by a different person (or group of people), and that one person isn’t performing more than one role.

The Architect is the one responsible for creating the blueprint or the design (this is what Ministry Architects does for churches), the General Contractor is responsible for making sure that the blue print is being followed and that the skilled craftspeople have everything they need in order to do their jobs well (typically the paid or volunteer youth director), and the Skilled Craftspeople are the ones doing the building (typically volunteers who are matched up with their gifts and passions). In many instances though, especially in small churches, a volunteer who had been serving in the role of skilled craftsman for years has been asked to become the youth director. And since the volunteer loves building relationships with youth, they are excited for the opportunity. What they may not realize, though, is that an effective youth director with good general contracting abilities understands that only 35% of their time should be spent with youth. A good general contractor pours 65% of their time into engaging parents and empowering and equipping volunteers.

In what role have you been asked to serve? Are you living into that role?

Are you training the volunteers? Even if you are a volunteer, you’re the leader now. The other volunteers on your team need training and guidance.

Are you engaging parents? Are you encouraging them and equipping them to be the primary tenders of their son’s or daughter’s faith?

It’s hard making the shift from a skilled craftsperson to a general contractor. Not everyone is capable of filling those shoes, but most general contractors have done exactly that. They served as a youth advisor, they fell in love with youth ministry, and they took the plunge.  They understood that youth ministry isn’t just about youth. How are your general contracting skills?