I’m sitting here putting the final touches on my breakouts for Orange 11.
They’ve been “brewing” for a couple of months and I have a couple of days to put a bow on top.
Here’s what I was thinking.
I’ve put the breakout topics below. Read them over and imagine you had to put these on.
What are the few ideas you would HAVE TO SAY if you were me?
DM me or comment below.
Thanks for the feedback. – Shef
How To “Free” a Volunteer
Do you need help? Or, Do you need better help? Have you ever wished you had better and/or more volunteers? Join Tom Shefchunas, Director of Middle School for North Point Ministries, as we talk about those problems. Become a leader of a program that attracts high-powered volunteers who get the job done.
How to Set Boundaries
Got too much to do? Me too. Welcome to ministry! In a world where just about anything can be included in your job description, how do you keep it manageable. Are there things we simply have to do? Are there things we need to say “no” to? How do you know which is which? Join tom Shefchunas, Director of Middle School for North Point Ministries, as we discuss strategies and principles to not only run the race well, but finish it.
Speaking and Programming to Support Small Groups\
Did you know that much of what we do in programming can actually hurt what happens in group? Did you know that a speaker can be so effective that there is nothing left to do with 14 6th grade boys but review the sermon? You can ruin your small groups with your program if you don’t have a strategy. Join Tom Shefchunas, Director of Middle School for North Point Ministries as we discuss strategies that lead to quality small groups, empowered and engaged leaders, and students growing a faith of their own!
1. Never settle on your expectations of a volunteer. EVER.
2. Talk about what can’t wait till tomorrow…Anything? Let others know your boundaries and when you return email/phone calls…then do it.
Awesome….thanks Chad.
Volunteers need to know you as a leader care as much, if not more, about them than what they do.
God is the best at setting personal boundaries. If you make it top priority to stay close to Him, He will help you set your personal boundaries and enable you to keep them.
very Cool…thanks Autumn. I think you beat your husband on this one!
Shef
VOLUNTEERS
High-powered volunteers want to have “ownership”. No one likes to be just an extension of someone else. They want to have ownership of what job they have been given. If you allow this and encourage volunteers, letting them know they have the ability to fully “own” their role I think they will definitely go above and beyond for you, not to mention they will be more excited about volunteering.
Sweetness. I know you know this well my friend!
Shef
Learning from my own mistakes.
)
Volunteers – the idea of empowering your volunteers has always been a game changer for me. Giving them material and outlets to strengthen who they are, allowing them to fail but challenging them to do well. The overall expectation of a volunteer can be daunting at times, empower them to use their own gifts and be themselves, not a reflection of the leader.
Groups – be a strong listener. Responding to a comment with something along the lines of “I remember when I….” can deflate the conversation and discourage people from contributing. When we allow others to express their stories, this will bring about more conversation.
About Volunteers (this is ALL the areas I messed up when growing ministry from basically nothing to a full on operating ministry. I wish someone would have told me these things.)
1. Right on one sheet of paper expectations & remind the leaders of them each year. The happiest and healthiest volunteers are those whose expectations meet reality.
2. Training should be used for inspiration more than information.
3. Don’t assume that what you talk about that is happening in your best volunteers is happening in most of the groups. I had some JACKED UP stuff going on and just believed the stories I heard. People who have terrible groups don’t brag about it. Seek out people you don’t hear from.
4. Give volunteers access to tools like the database. There is CRAZY frustration in having someone else try to manage your contacts, attendance, etc… It will usually be wrong.
5. Even if you have a “less is more” ministry, send out survey’s and ask for ways to do things better and what is used and not used. Zoomerang.com is a great tool for this.
6. Write down your administrative systems in step by step processes… In smaller churches you have to create volunteers for all admin to get anything done!
Speaking to support groups:
1. The longer the speaker goes, the harder it is to get anything done. Manage the speakers time because the 11 minute small group just stinks
Just my two cents! I love what you do and who you are Shef! Great ministry leader!
I’m super excited about Orange. I’m bringing a couple of leaders that are pumped too.
Volunteers: If the goal is to produce volunteers that are leaders, sharing principles instead of outright instruction is what takes our ministry further. A monkey can do what they are told, a leader that knows the focused goal can excel.
Speaking: Really can’t wait to hear this one.
Chef, are these talks available online? Heard you last year, but didn’t make it to orange this year. Thanks
I think you can get them through the Orange Site…I know they recorded them. I’ll ask. Thanks Brad…maybe next year?