The Path to a Fully Competent Volunteer
Monday, December 10th, 2007In the post I wrote yesterday on a volunteer reproducing himself, Fred left a comment that I wanted to pass on. He said…
Let them sit with you while YOU do it …
YOU sit with THEM while THEY do it …
YOU get out of the booth, and let them DO IT ALONE.
My mom later commented with a quote she heard. It’s how she taught me and I KNOW it worked. Thanks mom. LOVE YA!
Tell me and I’ll know
Show me and I’ll remember
Involve me and I’ll understand
Though Fred was applying this to media during a church service, I believe this works everywhere - nursery, receptionist, youth, etc. Think about it. How can we apply this to our ministry areas?
Just remember that it should be our goal to train our replacements. Anytime we do a ministry task, we are potentially removing the opportunity for someone else to do that ministry. Feeling overworked? Reproduce yourself.
Not sure it will get done without you? Stop right now and pray for God to give you a dose of humbleness and ask Him to forgive your pride. Remember, you once were not very good at the thing you are now holding so tightly to. Think of the multiplication and the potential of having two of you in a sense. Or even ten of you.
I was the kid who got to sit with some great people who then let me try with them who then let me fly solo. I wasn’t good at sound for the longest time. I used to be horrible at graphic design. But people gave me a chance. Thanks to Adam, Adam, Adam, Lynn, Anthony, Curtis, Scott, and Larry - who right now I can think of did just that. Ten years later I am doing those things professionally in the church. Had I not had the chance who knows where I would be?
Friends, be fruitful and multiply.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:48 am
Since my blog ended up being 4 huge blogs, I’ll excerpt some things that relate most directly to your posts…it doesn’t all relate DIRECTLY to mentoring a sound person, as this is the WHOLE model of discipleship (beginning at leading someone to Christ), but I think you’ll see the connections…
“First, both John the Baptist and Jesus called people to change their minds…During this stage Jesus taught mostly on God‚Äôs love and forgiveness of sin…This is called ESTABLISHING FAITH. Second, Jesus called a group of disciples TO HIMSELF - SET APART, and taught them of his messiahship and power through miracles, and taught them the basics of body life and evangelism. This is known as LAYING FOUNDATIONS. Third, Jesus calls some of those men to be ‚Äúfishers of men‚Äù, and those committed themselves to minister WITH HIM publicly ‚Äì he further taught them principles of evangelism, demonstrated his power over sin, physical evil, and his authority to judge and to justify. This phase is called MINISTRY TRAINING. Fourth, Jesus chose the twelve AS LEADERS, and he organized His ministry around this group, instructing them and DELEGATING TO THEM AUTHORITY. The focus of this was Kingdom living, challenging them to step out on their own in this. Carl Wilson referred to this as DEVELOPING NEW LEADERS. And lastly, Jesus appointed the seventy, and the original 12 ASSUMED INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY and ownership of his mission, and became more self-reliant. They learned of God‚Äôs sovereignty and the all-sufficiency of Christ, and to make disciples of others. This was known as DEPLOYING MATURE LEADERS.”
Hope that keeps you from having to read my ‘dissertation’!
December 11th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
Good stuff Shannon. Thanks for adding it.