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All children's ministries have three common elements. The first is easy—kids. The second is also obvious—Jesus. The third element we share? Volunteers.

As director of Promiseland, it is important for me to know how our volunteers feel about serving. Many show up faithfully year after year, which is a good sign. The ever-learning leader in me wonders why they do that, though. To find out, I hosted an open house for a group of veteran volunteers with 10 or more years of experience, and asked them to answer one question: "Why do you serve in Promiseland?" Here are some of their responses:

"I love the other leaders that I serve with in the room."

"I get my weekly 'fix' of love."

"Promiseland is where you are more important than the task."

"It's great to see life change in little people."

"Because we're actually being served by the people in Promiseland."

Collecting reasons why people volunteer was easy with this dedicated group—I just asked them. Learning why volunteers leave Promiseland, on the other hand, is not nearly as easy. However, this knowledge can be equally valuable—and maybe even more important—because it reflects the realities and qualities of ministry life into which we invite people. If we recruit well, then we must be just as deliberate with how we care for people once they're on board. When this doesn't happen, the results are predictable—volunteers quit.

After years of making almost every mistake possible, I have consolidated my learning into four key lessons on how to treat people who join our ministry. These lessons began with awareness of four big problems sure to prevent successful serving. I think of these problem areas as "ministry monsters" that can slip into our ministries unnoticed and wreak havoc.

1. Used and Abused—shows up when volunteers feel that they are asked to show up on Sunday morning to get ministry done for someone else.
2. Isolation—appears when volunteers feel disconnected and even alone in ministry work—feelings that rob fun from serving.
3. Power Monger—leaders invite this monster into a ministry when they insist on making decisions without the input of volunteers, and also when changes are made without any explanation.
4. Stagnation—takes over a ministry immediately after boredom and lack of purpose arrive. The first group to suffer under this monster is kids, followed by volunteers.

What ministry monsters do you have? The only way to truly know is by understanding the reasons volunteers leave. After collecting feedback from those who have walked out the door, look for trends. Finally, determine what your ministry must do to create a climate people don't want to leave—in other words, plan how you will defeat the monsters. Volunteer care cannot be left to fend for itself. In Promiseland we learned to do a deliberate job of 1) valuing people, 2) connecting them in community, 3) including them in the decision-making process, and 4) deliberately challenging them so they never become stagnant. Each required a unique plan of attack, constant attention, and periodic updates to ensure effectiveness.

If you've felt the pain that comes from ignoring these four components of caring for volunteers, there's good news. The processes to determine what you must do to keep volunteers starts with one easy step—just ask.

Sue Miller is the executive director of Promiseland, Willow Creek's children's ministry

Copyright © 2005 Promiseland.

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