Easter has come and gone, flowers are beginning to bloom and spring is finally here which means that summer is just around the corner. As the snow begins to melt, and the tulips start to show off their spring colors, your team should be well on its way to planning your summer vacation bible school.
Planning church events can be fun and stress free as long as there is detailed planning and lots of hands to help. Read the Full Article →
Churches are established to help people – and it takes people to do that work.
The challenge for churches is that the majority of the workforce is in the form of free labor.
These necessary laborers are what we refer to as volunteers.
Managing volunteer labor creates a dynamic that is unique to churches and the nonprofit world.
The term human resources represents the people who make up the workforce (paid or volunteer) of an organization. Read the Full Article →
The beauty of a church community is the abundance of committed people who have an interest in helping the church achieve its vision and mission.
Volunteers are the engine of the church because they donate the man-hours to ensure everything gets done.
And many people use the volunteer experience to get to know other members in the church community.
Creating a well-run volunteer management program can help ensure a great experience for those volunteers.
Read the Full Article →Many churches rely heavily on volunteer labor because they don’t have the resources to pay staff for all of the work that needs to be done.
Effective management of this valuable labor force is critical to an organization’s ability to fulfill its mission.
Churches need to have systems and processes in place to oversee and manage volunteers to ensure two things: 1. Read the Full Article →
Effective volunteer management involves good communication and coordination of job duties.
Like employees, it is important for volunteers to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and given the training and tools to perform job tasks.
A well-run volunteer program will include a streamlined process to recruit, place and train volunteers in a role that best matches their personality, interests and skill-set. Read the Full Article →
I recently had a manicure and pedicure by a delightful woman. We will call her Rachel to protect her anonymity. When Rachel learned what I did for a living she shared an interesting story with me. The story made me realize how important it is to be thoughtful with communicating bad news to a volunteer.
Rachel tearfully shared that she had been fired as a children’s ministry volunteer because of a picture that she was tagged in that was posted on Facebook. Read the Full Article →
People get involved in the local church to develop relationships, grow spiritually and participate in the mission of the organization. A church survey can help assess this involvement.
Members benefits from the opportunities they are given. The church benefits through member financial support and free labor to fulfill its mission. If done well, it is a win-win!
Tensions arise when either party feels like their needs are not being met. Read the Full Article →
The volunteer application process is an important part of the volunteer experience because it speaks to the credibility of the organization.
An efficient process keeps the application information organized and makes volunteers feel confident about getting involved.
There are many pieces to the application process and each step should be part of an overall process that prepares for the next step. Read the Full Article →
Successful businesses understand that it is the customer that buys their products and services – and ultimately pays their salaries.
The church is beginning to recognize the importance of paying attention to its core customers – which are its visitors, members, volunteers and employees.
These vital customer groups make up the church, and without them, there is no church.
Members fund the church, volunteers are the labor of the church and employees facilitate the process. Read the Full Article →
Leading people requires a very different skill set than those needed for managing the work of others.
A leader is someone who brings people together and guides them toward a common goal. They set the target, the pace and the culture within an organization.
They are a constant presence of calm within the storm and encourages those they lead.
Regardless of your position in your organization you can be a leader! Read the Full Article →
