7 Things Church Volunteers Need and Deserve

I've been thinking some about our volunteers at Intl Church. We are working on a better process to help people get involved in meaningful ways in ministry in and through our church. Here are seven key principles that I believe are especially important

First of all the biblical basis for my thoughts (and for our desire to see people volunteer and get involve traces back to Ephesians 2:10. This means that God desires us not only to experience his love and grace, but also that we be active sharers of it through involvement with ministry.

(1) People expect and deserve a personal invitation. Some will volunteer and get involved on their own but most won’t. Most will wait until they are invited into something.

(2) People who do not get involved in something that is both meaningful and personal (i.e. they make a few friends) will eventually find other things to do with their time and will slip out of church. There are exceptions, but this is the rule.

(3) People expect and deserve some preparation/training. Invitations to serve must come with the opportunity for appropriate orientation/training.

(4) People expect and deserve follow up and encouragement.

(5) People need opportunities that work with their schedules. Multi-year or even month-long commitments are hard in Bangkok. Every position needs two or three “redundants” to be effective given the travel and work schedules.

(6) People want to do something they both enjoy and are good at. 

(7) People need to see the big picture. They deserve to know how what they are doing fits into the mission and vision of the church and the kingdom of God.




* I adapted these from Gary McIntosh