Workdays: Part Two
A goal of getting your people engaged is to involve people who have never done this sort of thing before. Typically, nearly 50% of participants are new to each workday organized by our church. There have even been some participants who attended our church just once, heard the workday announcement, signed up and came to the event that same week.
After the first all-church-school workday, we asked some of the first-ever participants to consider being team leaders—owning the on-site coordination of a piece of the work for the second year. Every year, we kept good records of who was there and how to re-contact them. As we began to see people volunteer year after year, those people became our new team-leads. As a result, we always had back-up options if someone was out of town for a future workday.
As our school clean-up day gained momentum over the years—allowing for the benefit and challenge of an ongoing relationship in the community—we saw regulars going above and beyond expectations. Some would stay well beyond our ending time in order to finish a few of the school’s wish-list tasks. Kids Hope USA mentors from our church, who already came every week to mentor a child, also came on these Saturdays to help tidy up the school.
We often had—and encouraged—families and small group serving together. We also began to require it for our high schoolers as part of their summer mission trip preparation—to help practice skills as well as to aid their “family groups” in deepening relationships before traveling and working together in another cultural context.
There was never a limit to who could come: we’ve had participants age 2 years to 84 years. Work done: gardening, yard work, classroom cleaning, handyman jobs, library re-shelving and reordering of all books, painting, re-sealing the stage in the courtyard, reorganization of the staff workroom, closet cleaning and inventory, taking photos and video, etc.
As you consider planning a work day for your church, here are some comments from people who served:
□ “Today was "a happening" for all of us from 1st Pres. I was amazed at all the people that showed up, as it was my first time to help with this project. I guess, as they say, many hands accomplish a lot!! I loved the morning. Thanks for the super duper organization.”—a first-time work day participant from First Pres.
□ “My son commented on how surprised he was at how fun it was and how much energy he had. I told him that when we help other people, God gives us a lil' boost of energy.”--a Dad and son team
□ “The people helping in my room were the nicest people!”—a Columbine teacher there on Saturday
□ “I got all teary this morning seeing all those people show up to help us!”—Columbine’s assistant principal—her first work day.
□ “You have made my job so much easier in the long-run by getting all these big and small things done today.”—Columbine’s custodian
Serving in practical, hands-on ways was good for us and good for them. A great way to bless the community and love without strings attached.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.