May 21, 2001

FAMILY MATTERS:
Volunteers can define terms of service
___My wife is interested in volunteering in our church nursery. We love caring for the little ones. Our grandchildren live a great distance from us, and we enjoy seeing the developmental stages of youngsters. However, I know that once you volunteer, you feel as if you can never say no when they get in a pinch for volunteers. How can I convince my wife not to do this?
___

MARY STEPHENS Vice President Buckner Retirement Services, Dallas

___Part of the richness of church membership is volunteer service. In addition, volunteering in the church nursery is a wonderful opportunity to get to know younger families within the church.
___Although your question seeks techniques to convince your wife, the larger issue is more critical: How do you volunteer in church and not feel as though you have made a specific lifetime commitment?
___Many churches continue to function under the "once called, always called" theory.
___If this is the case in your church, and you truly want to volunteer for either periodic service (one Sunday a quarter, for example) or for a specific time frame (such as every Sunday for one quarter), you should make these conditions clear.
___You and your wife could sit down with the nursery coordinator and express an interest in limited volunteerism. Explain that you do not want to make a lifetime commitment but rather wish to work with a schedule that meets your needs.
___Most volunteer coordinators recognize they must work within the context of a volunteer's needs. You might wish to serve as a substitute when someone needs coverage. Service would be sporadic, but you could more easily accept or reject opportunities based upon involvement in other church activities.
___Volunteerism is the backbone of church life. Without Sunday School teachers, library workers, committee members and other volunteers, churches would suffer. In addition, the opportunity to feel more connected to the day-to-day life of the church would be missed.
___You and your wife have key qualities of successful volunteerism. You know where you want to serve and have a love for those with whom you would be working.
___If you can successfully convey your commitment guidelines, you should be effective volunteers. Prepare yourself for a blessing. Volunteerism is one thing we do that gives us back much more than we give.
___

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend

News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!