How can I find more volunteers?
Even in its simplest form, churches need to get certain tasks accomplished. Whether it’s greeting people warmly, setting up chairs, providing food, or any number of other practical matters, you need volunteers. The church is a volunteer-based organization. We all need...
Helping people discover their calling
There are few things in ministry more personally rewarding than helping someone discover their calling. The joy and sense of “rightness” they feel is infectious, encouraging and motivating. For all of us, our satisfaction in life is directly linked to the degree to...
Helping people discern their passion for ministry
Are you watching people slowly lose interest in ministry? Are people having a hard time finding a place where they “fit” at your church? If so, its time to step back and look at how you are connecting people to ministry opportunities. Discovering the...
Aligning individual callings with the broader vision of the church
Some pastors ask individuals what they want to do—what is their calling—and then send them off to go start that ministry in the church’s name. Everyone runs off in different directions and the church ends up with dozens of different priority ministries: food pantries,...
Calling, part two?
Calling isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime, you-find-it-or-you-don’t kind of endeavor. At certain points, God may call us to shift gears– and that doesn’t mean we got it wrong the first time. Sometimes he uses one season of life and ministry to prepare...
Gifts and calling trump personality and preference
On my recent trip to Honduras, I had the privilege of traveling alongside Mark Fields, of Vineyard Missions. While there, he said something that struck me: “Gifts and calling trump personality and preference.” Mark is more of an introvert by nature. He would rather be...
Not every good thing is a God thing
There are many, many good things we could do. So many, in fact, that it can actually cause a problem in one of two ways. One is that we could overcommit and not do anything well. The other is that sometimes when we are faced with too many options, we paradoxically...