Comments on: What’s The Secret To Volunteers http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/ A site for tech volunteers written by tech volunteers Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:13:32 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Stuart http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-32045 Stuart Sat, 26 Apr 2008 23:33:19 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-32045 Good post Jim ... and the perennial issue of finding volunteers is something I hold close to my heart. Speaking from a British perspective I get very frustrated by the lack of willingness to 'muck in' and I really struggle to understand the mentality that says "I'm waiting for the pastor to recognise and use my gifting". Early on in my Christian walk I read "God's Armor Bearer" by Terry Nance which superbly encapsulated my feelings towards service and the way we should all be. However it simply doesn't happen that way. But like yourself I continue to try and find folks who will help first and then try and fit their willingenss to available tasks. For me a major key has to be relational and reading between your words you endaevour to do just this. God bless you as you continue this work Jim. As an aside note - I presented my pastor with a overall vision document for Tech in my local church and he came back (after a period) with the comment that "you know this will become a full time role eventually" ... he also had a negative which I may email you over one day ... Good post Jim … and the perennial issue of finding volunteers is something I hold close to my heart.

Speaking from a British perspective I get very frustrated by the lack of willingness to ‘muck in’ and I really struggle to understand the mentality that says “I’m waiting for the pastor to recognise and use my gifting”.

Early on in my Christian walk I read “God’s Armor Bearer” by Terry Nance which superbly encapsulated my feelings towards service and the way we should all be. However it simply doesn’t happen that way. But like yourself I continue to try and find folks who will help first and then try and fit their willingenss to available tasks.

For me a major key has to be relational and reading between your words you endaevour to do just this. God bless you as you continue this work Jim.

As an aside note – I presented my pastor with a overall vision document for Tech in my local church and he came back (after a period) with the comment that “you know this will become a full time role eventually” … he also had a negative which I may email you over one day …

]]> By: Ernie Stevenson http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-31900 Ernie Stevenson Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:18:46 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-31900 Great post Jim! Good insight about the real ministry side of media or tech ministry. In ministering to volunteers I could not recommend a better book than Simply Strategic Volunteers by Tim Stevens & Tony Morgan if you have not already read it. Mike & Jim, I'm also in the same situation and have been for years. Let me just warn against taking on more and more at church and keeping the same workload on your "day" job. From personal experience it can cause a multitude of problems physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, etc. I pray that we all three keep our priorities straight of God, family, work and then ministry. I also pray that we keep seeking God's will but be patience and not try and get ahead of His timing. (More personal experience) Jim, Check Facebook requests! Great post Jim! Good insight about the real ministry side of media or tech ministry.

In ministering to volunteers I could not recommend a better book than Simply Strategic Volunteers by Tim Stevens & Tony Morgan if you have not already read it.

Mike & Jim, I’m also in the same situation and have been for years. Let me just warn against taking on more and more at church and keeping the same workload on your “day” job. From personal experience it can cause a multitude of problems physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, etc. I pray that we all three keep our priorities straight of God, family, work and then ministry. I also pray that we keep seeking God’s will but be patience and not try and get ahead of His timing. (More personal experience)

Jim, Check Facebook requests!

]]> By: Jim Walton http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-31884 Jim Walton Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:28:39 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-31884 Mike, I work in the secular IT world as well and feel that God is leading me to fulltime work in the church in some way. I pray that I stay in His will and am sensitive to where/how He is leading. At the moment, my church is not in a position to add a new position but I'm told it's in the plans for sometime. Whether it's my current church or a different one, I'm open to where God leads For awhile I tracked my hours of church work pretty closely and have not lately, but the months of January and February, I averaged about 15 hours a week, including Sunday mornings. Sunday is about 5 hours, 2-3 hours in preparation for Sunday, then 7 or 8 doing actual work within or for the church. That's still about the same now. How much time do you spend doing church work? Mike,
I work in the secular IT world as well and feel that God is leading me to fulltime work in the church in some way. I pray that I stay in His will and am sensitive to where/how He is leading. At the moment, my church is not in a position to add a new position but I’m told it’s in the plans for sometime. Whether it’s my current church or a different one, I’m open to where God leads

For awhile I tracked my hours of church work pretty closely and have not lately, but the months of January and February, I averaged about 15 hours a week, including Sunday mornings. Sunday is about 5 hours, 2-3 hours in preparation for Sunday, then 7 or 8 doing actual work within or for the church. That’s still about the same now.

How much time do you spend doing church work?

]]> By: Mike O'Donnell http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-31880 Mike O'Donnell Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:49:06 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-31880 Hi Jim Interesting post. I'm heading up a tech team at our church but was wondering what sort of hours you were putting into the church work. I take it from your post that you are not employed, so assuming you have a job elsewhere. I work in I.T. in the secular world and am praying/thinking about "what point do I make the jump to doing this full time". Mike Hi Jim
Interesting post. I’m heading up a tech team at our church but was wondering what sort of hours you were putting into the church work. I take it from your post that you are not employed, so assuming you have a job elsewhere.

I work in I.T. in the secular world and am praying/thinking about “what point do I make the jump to doing this full time”.
Mike

]]> By: Roger http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-31863 Roger Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:17:14 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-31863 Enjoyed this post! Enjoyed this post!

]]> By: Kirk Longhofer http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/comment-page-1/#comment-31856 Kirk Longhofer Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:50:16 +0000 http://churchtechmatters.com/2008/04/23/whats-the-secret-to-volunteers/#comment-31856 Great post, Jim! Thank you! Great post, Jim! Thank you!

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