Last evening I walked a path that travels through woods, over tall sand dunes, and arrives at the Lake Michigan shore. The wind followed me toward the lake, eventually blowing directly at the water. As the wind met the waves, the typically large waves became calm, peaceful, and a bit tranquil. Quite dull, actually. I prefer the action—crashing surf, loud noise—the lake at full potential.
In somewhat similar fashion, organizations will move toward full potential when leaders figure out how to blow with the waves—and not against them. Let’s dive in and see what that statement means.
Picture this: The waves serve as the lake’s real action. Without them, the lake stands still. What makes them come to life? The wind.
Now, think about volunteers. They serve as the real action of a ministry; if they stand still, the place stands still. It might even become dull. What makes them come to life? It’s the wind—in the form of effective leadership.
Whenever I turn toward the people of our volunteer organization and just tell them whatever seems important to me, I can see the waves of action begin to disappear. Many leaders possess the ability to blow some seriously hard wind at people.
But more power exists from blowing that same wind with people.
Practically speaking, it’s a good idea to listen to those who really do the work of your ministry, and then craft your words and get behind them. Especially with volunteer ministries, listen to your people and respond to them. Three examples will help you see the surf, so to speak. Each delivers a lesson, too.
Example 1: “It’s no big deal.”
Ever hear that sentence when thanking a volunteer? In reality, volunteer service—selflessly giving time and talent for others—is a very big deal. Many volunteers don’t see it that way. They compare their service with the entirety of what’s going on and their contribution feels small. Help them see that the entirety is made up of individual effort. Without them, everything falls apart—especially your mission.
Lesson: Our work is made up of the collective effort of individuals. Maximize the value you place on people and deliberately share it loud and often; don’t ever let volunteers minimize their contributions and hard work.
Our organization, Kids Hope USA, seeks to bring hope and love to at-risk kids starved of these two basic life necessities. Without the mentors who meet with individual children each week, and the prayer partners who support this life-changing work, we accomplish nothing. At the end of each day, I know the work of every mentor and prayer partner helps accomplish our mission more than the organization’s president (that’s me).
Such a realization is not noble, it’s reality. The voice of those who serve in your ministry should command the attention of leadership like a marching band playing the national anthem.
Example 2: “Here’s what happened with me.”
When a volunteer feels like his or her contribution has value, something extraordinary happens—heart change. That’s right. A person making a difference becomes sensitive to how the experience personally affects him or her. Nearly everyone wants that feeling. And they want to share it, too.
I recently attended a church service and watched a video testimonial from a volunteer who described how she felt served by the team that she served on. It made me want to be part of that team. Similarly, there is power in the words of volunteers who describe the difference they make in someone’s life. These are the people you want speaking on behalf of your ministry—and you will draw energy from their words.
Lesson: Lives changed attract life changers. Let people who have a story to tell share what happened to them. In personal settings, group settings, any setting. Encourage them to tell others. Reference their stories often. An organization’s vibrancy is seen when personal stories continually wash ashore.
Example 3: “What else can I do?”
After volunteers believe in their value and see their part in personal stories of life change, they often seek more involvement. This doesn’t typically appear as a desire to take on a leadership role. More often, a person wants to help make more action happen.
Often, volunteer mentors and prayer partners for Kids Hope USA recognize the difference they make in an at-risk child’s life. An amazing difference, in fact.A difference so profound that many want to see more children’s lives changed in similar fashion. After hearing “What else can I do?” from our volunteers across the country, we launched the “145 … what would it take to reach one more?” campaign. Volunteers respond with disbelief when they hear that to bring hope and love to another at-risk child costs just $145. Many have said they didn’t know the amount was so small, so doable for them.
Kids Hope USA, like every service organization or ministry, seeks to make a difference in more lives. Leadership can, and often does, sweat over how to accomplish more. Well-directed wind that blows with the people who want to help—when you offer opportunities that they see as doable—will cause tides of excitement and commitment to rise.
Lesson: Rather than shoulder big burdens alone as an individual or leadership team, broaden the awareness of ministry needs and opportunities—and start with the people closest to your ministry. Just tell them. They already have big hearts for what you do; just take your need and slice it up into individual servings.
Sure, those in charge sometimes must turn a ministry in a new direction. But leaders who constantly stay in front, and then turn around to blow wind at those following, run a risk of diminishing activity.
On the other hand, ministry leaders who figure out how to get behind their greatest resource—their people—will see great waves of potential.
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David Staal, senior editor of Today’s Children’s Ministry, serves as the president of Kids Hope USA , a national non-profit organization that partners local churches with elementary schools to provide mentors for at-risk students. Prior to this assignment, David led Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington, Illinois. David is the author of Words Kids Need to Hear (2008) and lives in Grand Haven, Michigan, with his wife Becky, son Scott, and daughter Erin. Interested in David speaking at your event? Click here
©2010, David Staal
