Archive for the 'Volunteers' CategoryPage 2 of 3

12 habits that will get you promoted

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on November 30, 2007
in Leadership, Remarkable and Volunteers
. 7 Comments

1. Do everything you do as unto the Lord. Col. 3:17 tells us “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Remember who you working for. It’s not enough to remember Jesus is watching, do it like you are reporting directly to Jesus.

2. Work with a grin. Enjoy the trip. Have fun! Be the kind of worker that people enjoy being around.

3. Come early and stay as long as you are needed. Fifteen minutes early is on time. Come early enough to have everything done to begin on time!

4. Do error free work- Be efficient!

5. Be a team player. Esteem the team (Value others). Look for ways to lighten the load of others around you, especially the level of leadership above you.

6. Look for innovative ways to do what you are presently doing.

7. Become the best at what you do.

8. Produce results (Bear fruit) I love Psalm 92:12-14 ‘The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green.”

9. Be dependable

10. Make yourself where they can’t live without you. Don’t live off yesterday’s accomplishments, earn the right to be on the team.

11. Be a problem solver! Problem solvers always have a job, they are always in demand!

12. Do whatever it takes! Be an Ameri-can not an Ameri-can’t. Get-er’-done!

Even more on thanks…

Published
by
Ryan Frank
on November 21, 2007
in Encouragement, Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

Here are three things to do when you say/write/show thanks to your workers:

1. Be specific in your thanks. Thank them for something specific they did for you, for the kids, etc. For example, “Becky, I saw you sitting on the floor Sunday morning reading to the two-year-olds. What a blessing you are to our ministry.”

2. Acknowledge the effort it took for them to do it. For example, “I know you didn’t have to…” or “You sure went the extra mile when you…”

3. Let them know they are making a difference.

4. Remind them that their work and labor of love is noticed by the Lord.

More on thanks…

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on November 20, 2007
in Encouragement, Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

It is always the right thing to do to give thanks and be thankful. It’s not just a seasonal thing. It should be a way of life for the Christian leader. Not only should we practice thanks living but we should also practice thanks giving. All of us like to hear thank you that includes your volunteers. Here are some practical ideas to motivate your workers with thanks:

1. Begin to say it. Get in the habit of saying thanks. If the Apostle Paul can tell people he thanks God for them every time he thinks about them we can too! Walk around before service & thank workers personally. When you are in front of a group of workers- say thanks. Be on the lookout by catching people doing things right.

2. Begin to write it. The best purchase any leader could make is a box of thank you notes. Write a heartfelt note to your leaders when they’ve done something thanks-worthy. A couple of times a year as well as after every major event send a letter to say thanks. Even a form letter is better than no thank-you at all. Always sign each letter personally and write a short note to personalize it. Don’t forget Christmas cards, Valentine cards, Birthday cards and Anniversary cards. I’ve found that when I write a personal note on all reports, forms and checklist workers complete so they know you read them and know what they are accomplishing.

3. Begin to show it. Candy treats and little sayings are cute but nothing says thanks better than letting your actions speak louder than words. Things like special worker parking places, breakfast for your volunteers and their families before your earliest service, Worker Appreciation Day as well as a free CD of the service they work shows volunteers you really appreciate them.

4. Invest in them. Plan a retreat or special training event for your workforce that includes training, inspiration, and fun. Bring them as a group to a conference or seminar. Give them training products as gifts. I’m always purchasing tape sets and teaching CD’s for my workers. Books are best. If a book has blessed you bless someone else with it. I gave every key leader and coordinator in my ministry a copy of my book “Children’s Ministry Leadership-the you-can-do-it guide” sure they enjoyed the book but the fact that I invested in them spoke volumes to them. But the greatest investment is when you give them your time. I take key workers with me all the time; I look for ways to invest myself in them constantly.

It’s never the wrong time to begin to show thanks! Make thanks giving and thanks living a part of your yearly calendar planning. Look for every opportunity to say thanks, write thanks, show thanks, and invest in your ministry team!

Communication is work!

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on October 30, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 0 Comments

In the thirty years I’ve been involved in children’s ministries I’ve noticed there is often a communication problem between church leadership and the children’s ministry. I think the problem exists because we forget that communication is hard work. Take the telephone for instance. We love to use the phone but someone had to do a lot of work for us to take advantage of its usefulness. We forget that for a telephone to work someone had to go in the woods and cut down a tree, drag it out of the woods then they had to cut off the limbs and skin off the bark, then weather treat it and then dig a hole and plant the pole. Then they had to repeat the process a few million times and then connect all the poles with wire. Then they take the connected poles and connect them to your house. That’s a whole lot of work. Communication within your ministry is also hard work. I also think those of us in children’s ministries forget there is one group of children we have to communicate with and three groups of adults we have to work with. We must communicate well with parents. We must communicate well with the workers around us and we must communicate well with the leaders above us.
What areas of communication do you need to work harder on? Remember same actions always brings same results.

Making Room To Receive

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on October 25, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 4 Comments

Every children’s minister I know is believing God for more workers and more children to minister to. We want to grow. But just wanting increase doesn’t cause it to come. Seventeen years ago when I moved to Tulsa I learned a principle from my pastor that changed how I looked at ministry forever.

It’s real simple. God gives us what we make room for. God is a good steward. He’s not going to give you something you can’t handle. We would all love to see 100 new workers come up to us next Sunday and want us to plug them in ministry. But the truth is that most of us could not put all 100 to work instantly, without special planning, study and a whole bunch of meetings. In other words we don’t have the workers because we cannot handle them. There is some work that each of us must do first before God brings in the workers.

We see this principle in Jesus’ ministry in John 2:1-9. You know the story how Jesus told the servants to go and fill the six large Jars with water. Each of these Jars held twenty to thirty gallons of water. We’re talking some work here. Can you imagine how heavy those jars must have been? Why did Jesus tell them to do this? He was the Son of God He could have turned air into wine just as easy as water. He didn’t have to involve them in this process did He? Yes, He did. He wanted all of us to know that when we do what we can do it releases Him to do for us what we cannot do.

What do you want to receive? Would you like to see your attendance increase? Let me ask you some questions do you have the rooms to grow? Do you have the workers in place to handle the increase? Do you have a program based on the needs of the kids in your area? Why should God give you more kids to minister to if your not following up and able to care for the ones you already have?

It’s the same with workers? Have you made a list of every place you could use a worker if people were no problem? Do you have a written job description for every position? Bro. Jim when the people show up then I’ll do those things. If you don’t make room for growth and do the work before hand the workers won’t show up.

We make room for things by doing something new. “If you always do what you always done, you’ll always have, what you’ve always had.” Same actions bring same results.

Is there a better way to do what your doing? Make a list of what you need, plan first then go after it. Grow in your abilities to lead. Increase your own leadership level. Set a goal, come up with a plan, and start making room for increase so you can handle what you are aiming for.

Getting Along With Grown-ups

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on October 24, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 1 Comment

Most Children’s Ministers are more comfortable with relationships with children than relationships with adults. Yes, we must be able to communicate with students but we must also be able to communicate with adults. If you cannot lead and impact adults you’ll never have an outstanding ministry to children. Here’s twelve tips for dealing positively with adult helpers and co-workers.

1. Realize you need help. You must allow others to be involved. Sharing center stage is hard for some children’s ministers. Three Dog Night taught me years ago, “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.” Doing the job alone will never leave fruit that remains.

2. Let people get to know you. The lowest form of leadership is positional leadership. Share your heart with those you lead. Spend time with you workers and let them get to know you.

3. Lead by setting the example. Give others someone to follow. Set the pace. A good leader is a model. Show people what to do don’t just tell them. Never ask people to do something you are not willing to do yourself.

4. Explain how and why as well as what. Leaders are teachers of those they lead. Let those you lead ask questions. Remember, Jesus was never too busy for Peter’s dumb questions. He was always willing to explain.

5. Admit when you are wrong. Take responsibility for your mistakes
Ask for forgiveness. Be quick to repent. Don’t make the same mistake twice. I have a no surprises policy with those I lead. I don’t want to be surprised even if it’s bad news.

6. Always side with authority. Don’t open the door for rebellion. When in doubt be loyal and support the leaders above you. Remember, you reap what you sow.

7. Watch and inspect what others are doing. Use your M.B.W.A. degree. Management By Walking Around. It’s the best way to stay in the know.

8. Dare to confront. Situations don’t fix themselves. Do everything out of love and always coach leaders to their next level.

9. Say thank you. A good leader can’t say it enough. People know if you mean it. Don’t just say thanks, show thanks.

10. Solicit the ideas & opinions of others. Ask for advice. A smart leader values the opinion of others. Listen to those in the trenches. Don’t lean on your own understanding, get another take on it.

11. Be an encourager. See yourself as a cheerleader for your volunteer team, your staff, and your co-workers.

12. Serve those you lead as well as those over you. If Jesus came to serve and not be served, we must do the same.

Servants can bring glory to God

Published
by
Evan Doyle
on October 13, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 2 Comments

Last Sunday evening our Pastor made this statement during his sermon: “Servants can bring glory to God.”

Now, the way my mind works, I think over everything way too much.  But thinking about it brought this thought to my mind: Volunteers are good.  Servants are better.

You can have tons of volunteers in your ministry, and people will look in and say, “Great!  They’re having an effective ministry.  Just look at all of the volunteers.”  But are you really?  What is the heart attitude of those serving?  Is it a “I’m doing this because I have to do it to fulfill an obligation” or is it a “I honestly want to serve”?

A volunteer brings no glory to God.  A volunteer is all about bringing glory to themselves.  They are inward focused in their service.  On the other hand, a servant is outward focused.  They’re all about bringing glory to God.  If they are truly serving with a servants heart, ministering will not be a chore to them. Continue reading ‘Servants can bring glory to God’

Children’s Worker’s Wedding

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on July 7, 2007
in Blog Updates, Encouragement, Leadership, Random and Volunteers
. 2 Comments

Today I attended a wedding of two of my old children’s workers that I recruited to work with kids at the church I served in Montgomery, Alabama. The crazy thing was I recruited these two to help more than 20 years ago and they are still serving the kids of this church. It was as much a children’s workers reunion as it was a wedding. The best man was my puppet director, one of the groomsmen was my costume co-ordinator he is now a children’s pastor, there were 2 others past children’s pastors beside me at the wedding both had been volunteers for me and then ended up on staff. It was an awesome time. His sister who interned with me who is now a Pastor’s wife did some children’s worker pay back. At her wedding the brother showed up at the reception in a chicken costume today she showed up in a Dog costume wearing a wedding dress. The cool thing is every where I looked I saw people who helped me minister to kids and 21 years later Kids still matter.

It’s so cool to be able to see the long term fruit of children’s ministry. What we do not only touches people today but for years to come. It was so neat to hear from kids I had in children’s church and meet their spouces and kids and see them serving God and living large for Jesus. Sometime it’s hard to think about the difference putting a love for kids makes in people over the long haul. It works Children’s Pastors and what we do matters for eternity!

Exceeding the expectations of those you serve…

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on July 6, 2007
in Encouragement, Leadership and Volunteers
. 3 Comments

I’m visiting my family in Alabama and going to attend a wedding this weekend. I was getting a little wooly so I went to a local barber shop for a little trim. I went in for a hair cut but got a wonderful experience. It’s part of a nation chain called Sport Clips. They know who they are going after (men & boys). You don’t need an appointment. It’s all about sports! They offer tons of service for not much price. First I got a hair cut quick, then I got a massaging shampoo. (I never understood why they shampoo you before the cut, after the cut gets rid of the hair.) Then they put a hot towel on my face then styled my hair and then massaged my neck & shoulders. When it came time to pay they told me I got a $5.00 discount for being a first timer. I left not only looking good but was thinking we in the church could learn from this chain:
1. Know who you’re trying to reach and focus on what they like.
2. Serve them more than expected
3. Have them in and out and wanting more
4. Make a connection for follow up
5. Make it fun for all who walk in the door
When a church, ministry, or business exceeds the expectations of those they serve they tell others! (Like I’m doing in this post.) This is truly the best way to advertize. Only you can serve others in a way that get them telling these folks are great! Remember this….”you gain those you serve!”

Most churches have a great first string

Published
by
Jim Wideman
on July 1, 2007
in Leadership and Volunteers
. 2 Comments

I love the church. I like all kinds, all shapes, all sizes. Most of the churches that invite me to come love kids and families. When I come in to help I see them all doing some great things. There is a group of workers doing a good job to love kids and make the Word real to them. Most of the churches I visit have a great first string of workers, only a few & I do mean a few have a second string and hardly any have a third or forth string. Yet any team that wins on a consistent basis in any sport has depth at multiple levels. I’ve writen in my book “Volunteers Tht Stick” how to go about developing this kind of “dream team” but it all starts with your desire and “want to.” Do you want depth bad enough to do different actions. “Same actions always bring same results!” If you aim at nothing you’ll hit it everytime. What do you need to do differently to allow depth to be established. It calls for a change of gameplan, it calls for additional training and instruction and it calls for some substitutions. You’re going to have to allow some other people to get some playing time. How bad do you want to win and build a dynasty of wonder workers?