As You Invite

Clarity when inviting people to serve is crucial.  No one wants to say “yes” to something amorphous—either in terms of time, months/years needed, resources required, etc.  One way to set realistic expectations—yours and theirs—is to have a clearly articulated “ministry description”—one that does not sugarcoat the role nor downplay its importance.  Taking the time to write out what the job entails can also be a great exercise for you and other leaders.

Present the need, the expectations/time commitment, training provided, benefits to them of serving and to the ministry/church/organization when they help, who will support/supervise them along the way. This can be a paragraph or a page.

 Yes, this requires prayer, thought, work, relationships, intentionality, and time.

 Yes, it’s worth it.

 People stay engaged in meaningful service that intersects with what God is doing in and through them. They also remain committed when expectations are clear.

 Now, your work begins in earnest—orientation, training, support, affirmation, feedback. These are not “volunteers”. They are disciples.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and leaders in a diversity of fields for over 30 years. She has also been Catalyst for Equipping at her 1,200 member church since 1999.

Photo (c) Shirley Giles Davis, all rights reserved.