Josh was one of the most zealous workers we’d seen at church, but I realized\nhe was three steps beyond “weary in well doing” when I read his letter:<\/p>\n
“My walk with the Lord is nonexistent. I’ve allowed the pressure of church\nwork to crowd out time with God. Now it seems impossible to get back in touch\nwith him. We’ve also gotten seriously into debt, and I’ve been trying to\ndo “ministry” while working five part-time jobs. I’m short with my wife and\nkids, and we’re having problems. I’d like to talk to you … “<\/p>\n
To keep volunteers from stagnation, frustration, and burnout, I’m learning\nfrom several pages in the Operations Manual.<\/p>\n
A friend dropped out of pastoring for awhile, taking a “normal” job. He later\ntold me, “I have new respect for lay people. I can’t possibly do everything\nI once asked of my workers.”<\/p>\n\n
I’ve thought a lot about his words. He was learning, like Ezekiel, to sit\nwhere they sat (Ezek. 3:15). When we do, we gain respect for people’s schedules,\nand we guard workers against overinvolvement.<\/p>\n\n
Last night, I grew wary while chatting with a new member, a hard-driving\nsales executive, thrilled with his new Christian life and eager to be involved.<\/p>\n\n
“I’ve signed up for drama ministry,” he told me. “We practice on Wednesdays.\nI have Bible study on Thursday nights and church softball on Fridays. We’re\ngoing to a Sunday school function on Saturday.”<\/p>\n\n
“I don’t expect you to be here every night of the week,” I said.<\/p>\n\n
As far as I’m concerned, the unwritten motto of lay ministry should be: One\nPerson, One Ministry. That may be unrealistic, but it gives us a goal and\nkeeps us sensitive to demands on our workers.<\/p>\n\n
Years ago, Jim, who was in charge of our buildings and grounds, planned a\nchurch workday. Several dozen people sacrificed extra sleep for thankless\ntoil. But I was disappointed to find that Jim hadn’t organized the activities.\nA hallway needed painting; there were no paint cans, brushes, or drop cloths.\nFloors needed mopping; one old mop and pail occupied the janitor’s closet.\nMost of us stood around trying to look busy, thoroughly frustrated. And only\ntwo people showed up for the next workday—so I was told.<\/p>\n\n
Nehemiah went about it differently. He created systems. The projected wall\nwas divided into manageable sections with clearly defined tasks. Some were\nstationed as watchmen, others as soldiers. Others provided food. Workers\nhauled off debris as it accumulated. Everyone understood his or her part,\nand the wall went up.<\/p>\n\n
Local churches are difficult places to create efficient systems, for they\nare volunteer organizations made up of people with varying levels of ability,\nmaturity, and dedication. Several things have helped us create or maintain\nsystems.<\/p>\n\n
Periodic retreats with staff or lay leaders are worth every penny. We get\naway to the mountains semiannually to look at our church ministries. We ask,\n“What systems must be in place, working effectively, to accomplish together\nwhat God wants us to do?” We develop organizational charts (a simpler task\nthan it sounds, thanks to computer software).<\/p>\n\n
Recently, our staff met in Cincinnati to take in a Reds’ game and to isolate\nourselves for two days of evaluation and planning. While away, we learned\nthat the wife of our oldest member had fallen ill. By long distance, we referred\nthe need to the man’s Sunday school class with its teacher, lay pastor, and\ntight circle of friendships. I was upset to learn later that no one called,\nvisited, prepared food, or prayed with the family.<\/p>\n\n
We treated it as a systems failure—”Houston, we have a problem.” We met with\nclass leaders to find out where the caring process broke down. We were careful\nnot to be critical, just concerned. Everyone now understands the processes\nbetter, and I don’t expect a recurring problem.<\/p>\n\n
It takes longer to solve problems on a systems level. It’s demanding to both\nminister and administer. But somewhere near or at the top of a productive,\nmotivated organization is a Nehemiah.<\/p>\n\n
During an intense capital stewardship campaign, two of our workers argued\nover decorations for the celebration supper. Claude had acquired three hundred\npine seedlings, thinking they could be potted in cups and placed at each\ndinner setting. “People can plant their pines as symbols of our growth,”\nhe said. “They’ll always be reminded, seeing their trees, of this period\nin our church’s life.”<\/p>\n\n
It was a good idea, but it didn’t suit the decorations planned by Anne, who\nvisualized fine china and tasteful elegance—not pine trees and potting soil.\nThey had a terrible row, and I hurried over to Claude’s house, where his\nwife met me at the car, wringing her hands. “Have you come to help us with\nour problem?” she asked. I nodded grimly and went inside. When Claude told\nme his side of the story, I sensed he’d lost his temper and spoken harshly\nto Anne. “Claude,” I said, “you’ve got to visit her and apologize.”<\/p>\n\n
“I did!” he said. “I did apologize. It didn’t do any good.”<\/p>\n\n
“What did you say?” I asked.<\/p>\n\n
“I told her I was sorry.”<\/p>\n\n
“You did?”<\/p>\n\n
“Yes,” he said, voice rising. “I told her I was sorry she was acting so\nimmaturely.”<\/p>\n\n
It took all my powers of diplomacy to patch things up (we finally stuck the\ntrees in elegant little flowerpots and handed them out as people left the\nballroom), but both families eventually left the church.<\/p>\n\n
Interpersonal conflict is a primary cause of burnout, so we take on the role\nof the loyal yokefellow in Philippians 4: “I urge Euodia and Syntyche to\niron out their differences and make up. Syzygus, since you’re right there\nto help them work things out, do your best with them” (The Message).<\/p>\n\n
So we strive to mediate or prevent conflict. We’re arranging lunch with a\nmember of our missions team who has been unusually silent during the last\nfew meetings—or absent altogether. I think she’s upset, and I’d like to talk\nwith her. Syzygus would have.<\/p>\n\n
Ever heard of Urbanus, Apelles, Tryphena and Tryphosa? They weren’t the most\nfamous New Testament servants, but they must have beamed when the apostle\nPaul mentioned their hard work in Romans 16. Paul’s example prompted us to\ncreate opportunities like these:<\/p>\n\n