Four Steps to Lead Volunteers to Serve Weekly

Four Steps to Lead Volunteers to Serve Weekly

You’re a leader facing a challenge.

You’ve got a team of volunteers you love to lead. When you consider the scope of your team, you see talent, skill, joy, and passion. And you know that if you can focus all of that in the same direction, the ministry you lead could reach further faster than you could ask or imagine.

But you know there’s a critical step to bringing all the talent, skill, joy and passion together. A necessary shift from infrequent serving rotations to frequent serving rotations. You’ve heard it can be done. But you’re not sure where to begin.

I get it. I’ve been in your shoes. In fact, there are a few simple steps to take to move your volunteer team from random serving rotations to weekly.

So, if you’re tired of your volunteer schedule looking like a cruel game of connect the dots, you’ll love this tool. Download the Be Weekly Volunteer Playbook and move your volunteer team to greater frequency and better ministry.

Download your copy today.

There’s That | New Podcast!

I’m excited to announce a new project I’m working on with Cindy Fiala that just released today.

Let me tell you how this started.

As leaders, Cindy and I find ourselves in really challenging conversations around topics that don’t have easy answers. They aren’t one-and-done.

These topics are rooted deeply in theology, ideology, culture and opinion. These topics are typically tackled behind closed doors and often off-the-record. Why? Because they’re hard. We walk away most of the time scratching our heads and hopeful that future dialogue will make the best actions steps clearer.

The power of these conversations shape us each time we have them. We don’t walk away with clean answers. But we always walk away with renewed conviction to keep leaning in.

So, we decided to give people the opportunity to listen in. To lean in with us.

But let me warn you. You’ll hear things with which you don’t agree. You’ll question perspectives we share. That’s okay. Honestly, I often question my own perspectives. But that the beauty of growth. None of us have arrived.

So, while we’re being shaped… enjoy this series of conversations we titled: There’s That  |  Conversations that disrupt your leadership in the best way.

Join the conversation on our Facebook group here.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

Looking for ways to expand your understanding of racial diversity? Download your free Be For Them quick guide here.

Five Ways to Improve Cultural Sensitivity in your Ministry

Five Ways to Improve Cultural Sensitivity in your Ministry

Last week I had a pretty incredible conversation with some ministry leaders. We all serve in different contexts in the US: Colorado, Tennessee, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

Our churches vary in size and context from large multisite (5000+) to small single location (500+).

Our skin colors vary from white to light skin to brown skin.

We got together to talk about a topic that is gaining momentum with every news cycle.

The realities of racism in our culture.

Later this week you’ll get to see that video conversation and hear the words of some incredibly graceful, intelligent and powerful leaders who experience the realities of racism every day. And we get the gift of learning from them.

But through the course of that conversation I felt a deep sense of conviction. 

Each leader described their experiences growing up in environments where they looked different than those around them. Navigating questions and assumptions about their race and culture. As I listened, I wondered how implicit I’ve been in perpetuating the racial discord in my own community. I can say with integrity that I would never do anything deliberately racist, but is my lack of intentionality part of the problem?

My lack of learning what every kid, student and parent needs to feel safe at my church. My lack of studying, researching, and reading to shape my thinking. To sharpen my filter through which I can examine how well my ministry reaches all families. Not just the white, middle class, suburban families that mimic my own.

Do you find yourself in a similar situation? Are you looking for ways to make your ministry environments safe for all families? My friends and fellow leaders helped me shape  some thoughts that can help. Take a look at five ways to improve cultural sensitivity in your ministry. 

Not enough time to read right now? Download a pdf of this post and read at a later time.

Look at your Volunteer Team

When you consider the kids and students that come to your church, does your volunteer team on stage reflect the varying ethnicities in your audience? In other words, when a dark skinned first-grader participates in your elementary service, will she see someone that looks like her teaching the bible story? Will the boy with asian features see a leader that looks like him leading a small group? Will the fifth grader who’s bff is wheelchair bound see that his church is a place where his friend can belong?

If the adults and students that comprise your volunteer team do not reflect the audience they’re reaching, are there changes you can make? 

I love this thought,

“Your team should reflect both genders, as many races as possible, and people of different abilities.  This is important even if these kids are not currently in your ministry.  This lets the children in your ministry know that your church values all people, whether they are in the room or not.”

[bctt tweet=”Your team should reflect both genders, as many races as possible, and people of different abilities.  This says your church values all people, whether they are in the room or not.” username=”paula_dannielle”]

Consider How You Communicate

What words do you use when communicating with kids, students or parents? Is your language inclusive or exclusive? Does your messaging assume two parents living under one roof? Or do you consider the single parent home, the foster parent home, the minority home? Does your storytelling or sermon consider the varied living contexts or economic status of your audience? Or does it assume only one?

When talking to kids and students, check your posture. Are you eye level? Or looking down at them? Are your arms folded? Or hands open reflecting an open mind and heart? There’s a power dynamic at play. Ignore it and you run the risk of making a kid/student feel unsafe.

Whether its the lobby, hallway or worship environment, everywhere a kid, student or parent walks conversations are happening. How can you create sensitivity within your ministry so they feel safe?

Let Them Volunteer to Participate

We are all in different phases in our faith journey and abilities. And we have no idea what a kid or student has experienced outside the walls of our church. Forcing participation can be an unintentional trigger that easily makes them feel unsafe. So, continue to invite participation without forcing it.  Forced activity isn’t fun. And forced faith isn’t faith at all.  It’s just religious practice. Respect the process and give them space to participate in their time.

[bctt tweet=”Forcing participation in your ministry can be an unintentional trigger that easily makes a kid or student feel unsafe.” username=”gina_mcclain”]

Intentionally Shape Your Perspective

What shapes your perspective today? What books are you reading? What podcasts are you listening to? What resources are you digging into to expand your understanding of diversity and the varying contexts in your audience?

We can only lead others as far as we’ve taken ourselves. So, what steps can you take this week to shape the way you think?

Here’s a Bonus: Download the Be For Them resource guide for a quick start.

Widen Your Circle

If someone checked your phone today, what story does it tell? Does it reflect calls, texts and video chats with a homogenous group of people? Or does it reflect the level of diversity you wish to reach in your community? 

A big part of breaking down the walls of racial divide has more to do with bringing people into your inner circle that look and think very different from you. People whose life experience can shape your perspective. People whose opinions and ideologies can sharpen yours. 

I’m not an expert in racial reconciliation. I’m just another leader like you that wants to make an impact on every kid, student and parent that engages with my church. And doing that requires that I grow, learn and love. To see people the way Jesus sees people. Their hearts. Their faith. Their world. Not their appearance. 

Before we can make a difference, we have to make a change. 

[bctt tweet=”Before we can make a difference, we have to make a change. ” username=”gina_mcclain”]

OKP 033: Finding a New Normal After Covid

OKP 033: Finding a New Normal After Covid

What will ministry look like after Covid?

There’s a lot of speculation out there. And one thing is for sure… we’ll learn as we go.

I loved this conversation with Mike, Kellen and my amazing friend, Amy Fenton. We talk about…

  • What we’re seeing as leaders lead through ministry in this season.
  • What to watch for as churches begin to open the doors of their buildings.
  • What we hope to see continues on the other side of Covid.
  • Where we see opportunity to innovate in the future.

You don’t want to miss this two part series.

But wait! There's more.

In this episode, we talk about ways to move beyond content and toward connection.

Follow this 5 step process and turn the tide on disconnection in your ministry

Download your free Leader’s Guide today!

 

 

How memorable is your ministry right now?

How memorable is your ministry right now?

“People will remember whether they needed you in this season or did not.” -Patrick Lencioni

I heard this statement last week. I’m really not sure if Lencioni actually said it. Can’t seem to find the quote anywhere. So… Patrick, if that didn’t come from you, my apologies. It sounds like something brilliant you would say.

Regardless of the source… that’s one compelling statement.

In fact, I would contend that its the most pivotal question a church leader could ask today.

Will people remember whether or not they need us in this season?

[bctt tweet=”I would contend this is the most pivotal question a church leader could ask today. Will people remember whether or not they need us in this season?” username=”gina_mcclain”]

As a ministry leader, I don’t know how you would answer that question.

When you consider your online platforms, you can look at an array of data to see how you’re engaging families with your online content. Unique views, total views, minutes viewed… the analytics can be overwhelming. And the analytics can tell you a story. But do they tell you the whole story?

The analytics can give you a glimpse of who is showing up. But how can you discover who is NOT showing up? And how can your ministry show up for them?

[bctt tweet=”Your online analytics can give you a glimpse of who is showing up. But how can you discover who is NOT showing up? And how can your ministry show up for them?” username=”gina_mcclain”]

I can’t help but believe Patrick has introduced a powerful thought here. One I think we need to wrestle down.

Will families remember they needed you in this season? Will they remember they needed…

… someone to show up in the form of a phone call to find out how they’re doing.

… a helpful conversation guide to equip them for better conversations with their kids.

… connection to a community resource to meet a practical need.

… a friendly reminder that they are seen, known and loved.

We are memorable when we get personal. The question we must wrestle down is… how do we create personal connections in today’s ministry context?

How do see, know and support families that have yet to engage your online platforms?

How do you show up frequently enough for them to say you were more than kind… you were personal?

[bctt tweet=”We are memorable when we get personal. The question we must wrestle down is… how do we create personal connections in today’s ministry context?” username=”gina_mcclain”]

The truth is… you can’t do it alone. You need an army. A system that equips your ministry to show up and be present in a season your families need it most. You can download a free guide here that will equip you to build the system you need.

In fact, you don’t have to build that system on your own. There are ministry leaders across the nation leaning into this question and tackling this challenge together. And you can join them. You don’t want to miss it.