04/21/23

How to Motivate,

Nurture, and Organize

Volunteers

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Hi, I’m

time! And I’m

money!

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We’re volunteers on a mission boat run by Mr. & Mrs.

Stewart Ship

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We’ll be your guides

in this video

We’ll give you

a few tips too!

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As you view this training

video, develop a sample

project for using volunteers.

Choose a project that

interests you.

Instruction

s

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More Instructions

When you see the message “Project Application,” pause the video, read the instructions, and then follow the little signal in the corner to the next instruction screens.

When you see “Stop the Video,” work on your project until you are ready for the next segment.

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What is volunteering all about?

How to take care of volunteers.

How to set up a volunteer

system.

How to set up volunteer

ministries.

What will we learn

in this seminar?

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Volunteers

What is a volunteer?

Some characteristics of volunteerism.

The biblical basis for volunteerism.

Unit 1

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Let’s ask our friend

Stewart Ship

What’s a volunteer?

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“A volunteer is a person who works

in some way to help others with

no monetary pay.”

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What is volunteerism?Giving some time to the human community.

•Home.•Church.•Larger community.

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CharacterisCharacteristics of tics of

volunteerisvolunteerismm

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Based mostly on time, not

money.

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Most people would rather give money than time.

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A volunteer is also a steward and disciple, responsible for taking care of that under his

or her care.

Principle # 1

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What’s a disciple?

Let’s ask Mrs. Stewart Ship.

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What’s a disciple?

A disciple is a person who has accepted a role compatible with his or her interests and abilities, and is committed to fulfilling that role without continual external motivation.

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“If you want to get something

done, ask a busy person.”

Volunteerism is based on

time management

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Who Who volunteervolunteer

s?s??

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Who volunteers?Most single people do not give

much time to volunteering.Young adults aged 18-24 are

less active as volunteers. People aged 35-49 are most People aged 35-49 are most

likely to spend time likely to spend time volunteering.volunteering.

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Who volunteers?

Volunteers give most of their time to religious organizations.

“Informal” volunteers don’t work for any organized group.

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Who volunteers? Education,

literacy programs, etc.

Fund raising. Recreation.

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Believe it or not!90% of all fire departments 90% of all fire departments

in the U.S. are run by in the U.S. are run by volunteers. volunteers.

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The “fivers”

Volunteers who give 5% of their income or 5% of their time to volunteer work.

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The “fivers” are the The “fivers” are the key group that key group that

makes makes volunteerism work.volunteerism work.

Principle # 3

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Volunteering is influenced by society What’s “in?”

– During the 1950’s, helping in hospitals was “in.”

– In the 1980s, helping in famine relief and drug abuse was “in.”

– In the 1990s, helping the homeless and street people is “in.”

– Building low-cost housing is also “in.”

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Volunteers Volunteers and moneyand money

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Volunteers work for free, but volunteer programs cost

money!

Principle # 4

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Volunteers and moneyVolunteer organizations spend a lot of time fund raising and collecting dues and pledges.

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The biblical The biblical mandate mandate

for for volunteerisvolunteeris

mm

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What’s the biblical mandate for volunteers?

Stewardship. Discipleship. Spiritual discipline. The mission of the

church. Spiritual gifts

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Volunteers and spiritual gifts.All Christians are given

spiritual gifts. These gifts are used to advance the Kingdom of God.

Christian volunteers work best within the borders of their spiritual gifts.

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How to be a successful volunteer

Shop around. Know your skills and schedule.

– Start small and work up to a more time consuming commitment.

Be prepared. Expect respect. Be sure you make a difference.

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The most famous volunteer poster

of all time

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I Want You!

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Project application

1. Define what a volunteer is.2. List four characteristics of

volunteerism.3. What is a “fiver” and why is he

or she important.4. Why do volunteers often spend

time raising money?

Next screen

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Project application

5. Write out a description of the type of volunteers you need for your project.

6. How many will you need?7. How will you fund the project?8. Who are the “fivers” you

already know?

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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The care and feeding

of volunteers

What today’s volunteers want.

Problems faced by volunteers.

Unit 2

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Basics: What volunteers want

Lots of affirmation.

Simple, direct feedback.

Plenty of people power.

Short terms in office.

Clear, limited tasks.

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1. What do you want me to do?

Clear, limited tasks.

–A clear job description.–What is the expected outcome?

.

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Principle # 5It is better to

negotiate a series of short terms than

ask for a single long term.

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2. How long do I have to serve?

Exactly how long will the assignment last?

Will I have to do something more when I finish?

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3. Plenty of people power.Will I have to do this alone?

Will I have a team to work with?

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Principle # 6

It is better to have five people do one job than to

have 1 person do five jobs.

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4. Simple, direct feedback Most church leaders report

that they do not get much feedback from anyone once they accept an assignment.

Many report they are complimented, but get no evaluation or review of how they are doing.

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4. Simple, direct feedback?

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Evaluation questions

What was the most difficult aspect of the role?

What was most enjoyable? What were the major accomplishments? What initial hopes and aspirations did

you have to give up? What are the issues your successor will

face? If you did the job over again, what

would you do differently?

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5. Lots of affirmationMany volunteers feel that

no one really cares about what they are doing.

Many feel that the job is not very important because no one knows about it, and if they do, they don’t care.

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Spotlight volunteers and their accomplishments as

often as possible

Principle # 7

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Spotlight volunteers

Big Wow!!!

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Negative recognition doesn’t work!

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Project Application

1. Review the five things today’s volunteers want.

2. Outline in some detail how you can include these five elements in your project.

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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Problems faced by

volunteers.

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No. 1 complaint of volunteers in the

church.

Sitting through frustrating meetings!

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Lack of definite job descriptions.

Expectation that they will do the same job over and over again for years.

The majority say they don’t have enough resources to do the job, mostly lack of finances.

Main complaints of volunteers in the

church.

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Many feel overloaded because they “have to do it all” themselves.– This is called “burn out,” and

is very common.

Main complaints of volunteers in the church.

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When one out of four key lay leaders is exhausted, cynical,

disillusioned, and self-deprecating, it has a profound effect on congregational life.

Principle # 8

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Parish life and attitudes.–Many volunteers in the church say they become cynical because of the attitudes and lack of commitment of other church members.

Main complaints of volunteers in the church.

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Main complaints of volunteers in the church.

No training–Most volunteers receive little or no training or orientation about the task they are doing.

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Summary

No agenda.

No thanks.

No training.

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Project Application1. Review the major complaints

of volunteers.2. As part of your project, outline

how you will take care of these complaints.

(Many of the details on how to do this will be studied in Unit 3. For now, just figure out a way to include these elements in your plan so they are not lost or left out).

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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Unit 3

How to set up an effective

volunteer system in the church

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Unit 3

Enabling volunteers. How to organize volunteers.

How to train volunteers.

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Enabling Voluntee

rs

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Essential elements

A chance for personal growth and development.

Participation by volunteers in problem solving and significant decision-making.

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Volunteers do not have to be officially elected to anything,

only approved. Use people according to their gifts and

abilities, not only according to a hierarchy system.

Principle # 9

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Enabling volunteersChoosing from involvement

alternatives related to individual interests and needs.

Opportunity to help set goals.Meaningful orientation and

training activities.

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Use a form Job title: Responsible to: Job description: Time required: In-service training provided: Qualifications and special skills: Comments:

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Avoid two fatal flaws

Expecting too little from the volunteer.

•Simplistic, boring tasks.•Lack of recognition of professional expertise.

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Avoid two fatal flaws Requiring too much time from

the pastor or the person in charge of volunteers or the project.– Slow start because of so much pastoral

time involvement.•“The major reason such programs are

not put to greater use in the church is because of the slow start necessitated by the commitment of so much pastoral time.”

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How many people will volunteer for any project?

2% Innovators

60% Middle

adopters

18%Earl;y

adopters

18%Late

adopters

2% Laggards

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Kinds of audiences who will volunteer

Relational people who want to take time for fellowship.

Planners take time to analyze, plan, and work out details.

Doers want to get going. They have little patience with planners or relational people.

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Project Application

1. Build into your project a plan for enabling the volunteers you will use.

2. What is the difference between an elected person and a task force member?

Next screen

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3. How can you avoid the two fatal flaws in your plan of action?

4. Make a list of people that you know fit the five categories on the time line. Who are the first ones you will probably recruit for your project?

Next screen

Project Application

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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How to Organize

Volunteers

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How to organize just about anything

Use task forces or ad. hoc. committees.

Keep it simple. – The more complicated the

organization, the more difficult it is to manage.

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It doesn’t matter whether committees are large or

small. What matters is their purpose and how they are

conducted.

Principle # 10

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How to hold a meeting The main reason meetings are

unproductive is because one person dominates and wastes time on non-essentials.

The second main reason is because the same unresolved issues come up repeatedly.

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How to hold a meeting

A specific time frame.Specific agenda.

– Go over the agenda. The chairperson should read through the agenda at the beginning of the meeting so everyone has in mind what will be considered.

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How to hold a meeting

Place new items on the agenda for the next committee.

If items not on the agenda are essential, get everyone’s consensus on when they will be dealt with.

Develop a follow up system.

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How to hold a meeting

Whatever item you take up first will always take most of the time, whether it is a small or large issue.

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Project Application1. How many committees will

you need for your project? 2. Design an agenda form, and

make up a sample agenda.3. Write out a statement of how

you will plan for committees and follow up on the actions taken.

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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How to Train

Volunteers

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The more trained leaders you have, the easier it is to run a volunteer program.

Principle # 11

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Leadership training system I do it - and you watch.

You and I do it together.

You do it - and I watch.

You do it - and someone else

watches.

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The leadership groups must meet regularly for training and evaluation or your volunteer program will fail.

Principle # 12

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The training cycle

6 - 8 weeks6 - 8 weeksOrganize a Organize a

group led by group led by an an

experienced experienced leaderleader

10-12 weeks10-12 weeksLeadership Leadership

trainingtraining

6-12 weeks6-12 weeksLaunch Launch projectproject

WeekendWeekendHold retreatHold retreatLay out plansLay out plans

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Project Application

1. Design a training system for your project.

2. Included a time frame for the training cycle, and decide on where the retreat should be held.

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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Unit 4

How to Set up an Effective Ministry

or Project

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Define the need. Target the ministry. Build the ministry team. Design a specific action plan. Develop a plan so the ministry fits

the overall plan of the church.

Unit 4Five building blocks

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Building block 1: Define the need

Construct a needs profile– Review the church membership

records and list the various group needs.

– Develop a priority list of needs.•Examples: Single parents, overachievers, nonmember spouses, etc.

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Building block 2: Target the ministry

Do a survey of the community.

Don’t generalize. Work through the data until a clear picture emerges.

Design a ministry that will meet the community need.

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ExampleMinistries based

on church

interests and

assumed needs

Ministries based on church

interests and

assumed needs

Ministries based on

community needs survey

No resultsNo results Positive Positive resultsresults

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Building block:3: Build the ministry team.

Ministry coordinator. Clerical assistant. Hospitality coordinator. Support liaison. Prayer leader.

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Building block 4: Design a specific plan of action Write out a description of needs

this ministry will meet. Write out the objectives of the

ministry. List the team members.

Write out the program design. Where will the ministry meet?

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Building block 4: Design a specific plan of action

Write out the program design. Where will the ministry meet? What time of year will it meet? List the resources available. Develop a budget. Decide on the starting date.

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Building block 5

Develop a plan so the ministry

fits the overall plan of the church.

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Project Application

1. For each building block fill in the names of people you think could be volunteers for your ministry.

Next screen

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Stop the Video

and work on your project

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Where to get more information Seminar-In-A-Box: Small Groups:

Wave of the Future Monte Sahlin, Sharing Our Faith

With Friends Without Losing Either. (Review and Herald, 1990).

James Zackrison, From Spectator to Disciple. (General Conference Ministerial Association, 1997).

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Where to get more information William H. Brackney, Christian

Volunteerism: Theology and Praxis (Faith’s Horizons). (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997).

Marlene Wilson, How To Mobilize Christian Volunteers. (Augsburg Fortress Press, 1990).

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Let’s Review the Principles

Studied in this Seminar

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A volunteer is also a steward and disciple, responsible for taking care of that under his

or her care.

Principle # 1

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Principle # 2

Volunteerism is based on internal motivation, not

external pressure.

04/21/23

The “fivers” are the The “fivers” are the key group that key group that

makes makes volunteerism work.volunteerism work.

Principle # 3

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Volunteers work for free, but volunteer programs cost

money!

Principle # 4

04/21/23

Principle # 5

It is better to negotiate a series of short terms than ask

for a single long term.

04/21/23

Principle # 6

It is better to have five people do one job than to

have 1 person do five jobs.

04/21/23

Spotlight volunteers and their accomplishments as

often as possible

Principle # 7

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When one out of four key lay leaders is exhausted, cynical,

disillusioned, and self-deprecating, it has a profound effect on congregational life.

Principle # 8

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Volunteers do not have to be officially elected to anything,

only approved. Use people according to their gifts and

abilities, not only according to a hierarchy system.

Principle # 9

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It doesn’t matter whether committees are large or

small. What matters is their purpose and how they are

conducted.

Principle # 10

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The leadership groups must meet regularly for training and evaluation or your volunteer program will fail.

Principle # 11

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The more trained leaders you have, the easier it is to run a volunteer program.

Principle # 12

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So now you know what volunteering is all

about, how to set up ministries, and how to

care for volunteers