12.14.2010

Balancing Efficiency & Trust in Ministry Staff/Volunteers (Part 2 of 5)

#1 – Care for the people who care for the people.

For lack of a better phrase, fellow staff members need to be my #1 care.  Ministry like any other job has its highs and sometimes lows.  Every staff member/employee of any non-profit organization or ministry willingly took a step, answered a call, accepted the mission to care for people, answer the calls of emergency situations, be present in times of crisis, love, coach, empower, provide empathy, lead through change and encourage.
Ministry is so rewarding; to be able to witness life change and have the high honor of influencing people, but when not managed well it can lead to BURNOUT.  And BURNOUT leads to disdain.  We can get so caught up in all the aspects of ministry previously mentioned that it can begin to affect 4 important areas – Physical, Mental, Spiritual and Social (relational, family) (Anne Jackson, Mad Church Disease).  This cannot happen.  When we let this happen, we are ineffective to those we minister to and not representing Christ well. 

Therefore, I will
  • ·         Encourage and lead staff to be efficient in the day to day tasks,  work harder and smarter with the processes we oversee so that when the people take priority when situations and the day calls for it. 
  • ·         Challenge myself and staff in the 4 areas that can be affected along the road to burnout.
  • ·         Think through a healthy way to get staff spouses and family members involved in goal setting etc.
  • ·         I need to keep an open door as often as I can at the office and LISTEN better.  I really need to learn from others by listening as we converse in my office or theirs.
What you can do
  • ·         Pray for the ministry staff that leads you
  • ·         Encourage them, fill up their tank – they need it sometimes
  • ·         Trust them

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I have encouraged volunteers to share what is going on in their ministry, especially and intentionally the positive, with their spouses and encourage their spouse to see that they are part of that ministry because without them, the volunteer might not be able to participate in that ministry. An example would be a stay at home mom and a dad with a demanding career. If the dad takes care of the kids so the mom can volunteer, the dad is indirectly part of that ministry, etc. The mom and dad are a team in ministry.

aaron said...

thats a great thought!

Anonymous said...

Is there anymore information you can give on this subject. It answers a lot of my questions but there is still more info I need. I will drop you an email if I can find it. Never mind I will just use the contact form. Hopefully you can help me further.

- Robson

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