If you’re too busy to read, you’re not too busy.
“Read or get out of the ministry.” -Wesley Every day you get an installment of 86,400 seconds and whatever you don’t use you lose.įirst I start with the importance of reading. Time is most valuable resource we have, and we all have the same amount of it. shares how he makes time for reading (or working out or any number of other things) and other advice he’s found helpful to remain an avid reader. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page.Pastor J.D. There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I’m grateful for that. You can learn more about Abundant Life Church at and Jeremy’s blog is located at. The document talks about positions needed in the volunteer system as well as what to look for in filling those needs.
We have a free download Jeremy has offered to our listeners which explains the volunteer policy and levels used at Abundant Life. Don’t create a volunteer staff position that is for small tasks on the side, but rather seek people who bring unique skillsets and experiences that could be key in helping the church.
In turn, this positive attitude boosts morale for the whole staff. In addition to exponentially multiplying the ministry that Abundant Life has been able to do, volunteer staff have also brought a certain energy and excitement with them because they are volunteering their time and skills to something they are deeply passionate about. Jeremy has found that volunteer staff love having a seat at the table and are honored that the church is elevating their roles. These individuals may have had amazing careers that give them a wealth of expertise and experience in an area that could help the church. Retired individuals may have more time for a role like a staff volunteer, which requires ten hours of work a week at Abundant Life Church. One huge area of untapped potential at your church may be in your retired leaders. Rather than apply for these positions, the staff at Abundant Life creates them when they see someone with the right potential, or when they see a need that they believe someone is uniquely qualified to fill. The only difference is they don’t collect a paycheck. They have the same onboarding experience as other staff, attend the staff Christmas party and even have staff evaluations. These volunteer positions are considered staff in every way – they have job descriptions, staff emails, access to databases, are required to attend staff meetings, and have an office where they can work. If there is a seasoned leader who has made it to level three and is pouring into others, and helping the church to do the ministry, they may be approached with a Volunteer Staff job offer. Finally, level four has the highest level of commitment and responsibility and belongs to Volunteer Staff. Levels two and three have increasing levels of commitment and responsibility and it’s important the volunteers’ beliefs align with the church’s. They don’t have to agree with the church doctrine or be a believer and there isn’t a ton riding on it. Level one, for example, gives people the opportunity to try out serving and see how they like it. This led to the creation of a system with four different levels of volunteer commitment and responsibility. This challenge forced the staff at Abundant Life to get creative, and they took a close look at the opportunities that could be given to volunteers. Churches don’t have unlimited budgets, nor the ability to hire new people for every need in the organization. Listen in as Jeremy talks about the limits Abundant Life Church encountered when it came to hiring, and how it forced them to get creative about empowering more volunteers to do ministry. Today we’re talking with Lead Pastor Jeremy Jernigan from Abundant Life Church in Portland, Oregon.Įvery church out there would like to engage more people, but it’s tough when you’re working with finite resources.