I am speaking at a luncheon for a “School of Worship” three day training program with our church next weekend.
My task: Lead a discussion with worship leaders on the topic of relationship and conflict resolution.
The people putting this together seem to think I might have some valuable insight as I’ve been on the leadership (pastor) side and now the volunteer (just another bloke in the pews) side.
I have pretty much pulled together my thoughts, but maybe you can add something that will be superior to what I’ve thought of doing.
If you are actively involved as a volunteer in your church, what motivates you to be involved? What makes a good leader versus a bad leader?
If you are on a worship team (non-paid), what would make the experience better?
Or maybe you just have some input that is not covered by these lame questions. I would love to hear from you!
Hmm…Be willing to do what you are inspiring others to do. Of course we have our greatest example of leadership with Jesus, he said “Follow Me”.
Be enthusiastic. When I am excited about something I am always eager to share it with others. In that respect I’m like a little kid; I just know they will surely love it as much as I do.
Now I will leave you with these one liners from 1001 Quotes.
1) The trouble with being a leader today is that you can’t be sure whether people are following you or chasing you.
2) There they go, I must hurry, I am their leader.
3) He who thinks he leads and hath no one following him is only taking a walk.
4) One of the tests of leadership is to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency.
5) Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.
Finally, Go with confidence remembering these words – Ps 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Here are a few questions I try to ask myself when approaching a ministerial issue or situation. Which responses make a “good or bad” leader is up to others to decide.
1. What is it I am trying to accomplish? Can I state that clearly? If not, then I might have a problem trying to implement it. Is it even “do-able”?
2. Why am I (and others) even doing this? Is it a prompting from the Spirit, is it a new program or method of worship (my least favorite motivation), are we responding to complaints from our congregation, or is it just religious busy work?
3. What is my personal motivation? Again, is it a Spiritual prompting, is it becasue I think no one else can or will do it, is it becasuse I feel guilty if I don’t, or am I stroking my own ego or reputation?
4. Am I qualified? If not, do I believe that God can supply what I need to accomplish His purpose? Am I relying on my own set of skills, talents and experiences to get me through? Is there someone else who could be better suited for this?
5. Am I willing to learn from the process? Is it okay that I don’t hit it out of the park on the first try? Is there something to be learned from failure?
6. Am I willing to let it go? When ministry becomes proprietory, the purpose of the Kingdom are often forgotten or ignored. Sometimes, despite how successful a ministry or task might be, there comes a time to give to someone else. It is possible that God has called him or her also. This is His Kingdom , not mine.
I’d list a couple more things, but I haven’t had my coffee yet.
My husband, daughter and I volunteer for the roadie/media team of our church. Liquid Church meets in hotels to bring the Church to the people who would never step into the church building.
We get up at 4 a.m. and don’t get home until after 5 p.m. It’s a very long day, and it’s mostly physical.
What makes us do it, and love it?
First of all, the church leadership is honest, forthright, confessional and truthful. They preach the gospel, but never forget that people struggle. The church comes beside everyone that enters those doors and makes available all kinds of help from Financial Peace University classes, to marriage prep classes, to discipleship classes that welcome nonbelievers and their questions. Liquid even had a four-week class to help people discover their spiritual gifts. The church meets people where they are and shows them Christ and His redemptive work. Nonbelievers are welcomed with open arms and genuine love. Most of them stay and end up becoming believers.
The church also has outside outreaches, where we go out into the community to offer something – a health fair, a Rock’n'Run to raise money to drill clean water wells all over the world (I’m walking it this year), renovating a battered women’s shelter (men only to show these women what true love is like) and many other projects. This inspires all of us.
There are many volunteer teams, and each one is very different, but the church provides meals, t-shirts, encouragement, fellowship and prayer. People motivate each other. Every team encourages other teams. There is no snobbery or cliquishness. It works as a whole. If people need to take time off to rest and refresh, there is no guilt. If people want to change teams, they’re sent off with a hearty prayer for their success.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
Sounds like some good answers. One thing I will add as a an attribute of a good leader….ask people to do what you want them to do. Don’t assume that people will volunteer if they are not asked. It is not so much a matter of wanting to be asked as wanting to be needed. Especially in a new place it is hard to know whether there are 400 people wanting to be greeters or only four…..be specific in asking people to participate.
Have a willing heart and spirit. Serve with joy.
Wow! What can I add to what has already been said in comment above?
My own Christian service has always been family and teaching oriented. I’ve also, in my early years in life, done some door to door knocking and soul winning service, which was great and productive in its time. Then, after that, I was heavily involved in teaching new Christians as part of a 13 week one on one “course” in which more mature Christians studied with brand new Christians one week at a time (different mature Christians each week for 13 weeks) to bring them “into the fold,” so to speak, and it was terrific!
Then, for years, I taught Ladies classes and always worked from my home as a homemaker to encourage young mothers. I always considered everything I did as “voluntary servitude” or maybe “involuntary servitude” on behalf of others, both Christian and non-Christian.”
For most of what I did, I did willingly, out of gratitude for my own experiences as a Christian. That was the basis on which I did what I did. I think that most of us work from a premise of thinking what was beneficial to us, or would have been, will be beneficial to others. I would encourage leadership to work from that premise. That followers will be led to work in things that have benefited themselves.
As for conflict resolution . . . now in my older years, I feel as if I am working from an “involuntary servitude” point of view in which I’m the designated one in the family to try to resolve all disputes, all of us being Christians.
In ALL things, I believe God gives us “graces” as we need them, to work out things with those around us and all whom we meet. It is up to us, I think, to grasp hold of these callings to fulfill His will. Leadership can help by encouraging us and strengthening us in all we do.
Leaders should, in my humble opinion, be “encouragers” above all. Those who chose not to follow . . . let them go. Those who are willing to follow . . . encourage them in all the work they seek to do.
These are MY thoughts on today’s discussion. For what it’s worth. And, believe me, I’ve been in the very middle of turmoil in all of these things, but tonight feel very good about all I’ve been able to accomplish this day.
Many blessings to each of you this evening.
Dee