I was having a conversation about getting something done with a couple of our staff members the other day. I think it was on the topic of Information Technology (IT) support. We were "whining" about how difficult it was to get things done. The conversation turned to the recognition that we were entirely depended (with the possible exception of my reams of expertise in the area!) on volunteers for IT support.
This conversation prompted me to clarify a couple of things when it comes to getting things done in the church. I believe there are a couple of "truths" about the church when it comes to how God wants us to get things done.
First, depending on the size of the church there are literally hundreds of "jobs" to do. At Christ's Church of the Valley we have just under 600 volunteers. That's right, we have almost 60 volunteers to every staff member. And, I can tell you it is still very difficult to get everything done. The IT support issue I began with is a great example. So, given that God could provide more than enough money to pay everyone required to run the church, but He chooses not to … we must conclude that getting things done in the church through volunteers is in fact what He wants. Right?
Second, serving in the church is one of the most effective ways to grow and develop spiritually. I can't tell you how many of the hundreds of people baptized here at our church were volunteers before they made their decision! The church's need for "more volunteers" is an open door for people to connect. And, connection to the local church is by far one of the most significant experiences God uses to bring people closer to Him. In fact, one could say that every time a person is hired to perform a task in the church -aside from how that individual's spiritual journey is effected- it is a missed opportunity to connect more people to the church body.
So, what's the difference between a staff member and a volunteer? Not much in terms of getting the job done in the church. Basically, when the "job" can no longer be performed by a volunteer or many volunteers there's no choice but to hire a staff member to fill the position. At Christ's Church of the Valley, though, we almost always hire someone from within the church, preferably someone who has already been doing the job for a while as a volunteer.
