Imagine a Superbowl without a Lombardi trophy or a marathon win without a medal. We are designed by God to be motivated by rewards. These can be external (trophies, medals, degrees, bonuses, etc) or internal, but we look for the results of our effort. Therefore, it is imperative that church leaders help members see the life-changing effects of their service.
Few people like to be blindfolded. Even in a game with a pinata, one can hardly wait to get that rag off his or her face. By nature, we like to see where we are at, where we have been, and where we are going. This is a key concept for church leaders to embrace.
There is a mentality among some church leaders that believes we should serve without any need for recognition of results (often pointing to the ministry of Jeremiah). While there is a clear warning from our Lord against doing good works for the sake of recognition (see Matthew 6:1-4), I find it interesting that our Lord recognizes the faith and ministry success of His followers. The Apostle Paul also takes many opportunities to recognize and thank those who have been a part of the ministry of reconciliation. Are not all followers of Christ eagerly awaiting the ultimate recognition from our King: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Until the moment we stand before our Savior, God has provided leaders to give encouragement and guidance. Recognizing excellence, effort, and progress in discipleship is motivating and encouraging to those receiving the “pat on the back” and the rest of the church. With a Christ-honoring motive, a leader can inspire followers of Christ to do even more to reach people with the Gospel of Christ.
Research has clearly shown that Christians who saw their efforts as used by God to positively affect others were likely to remain in faithful service for the long term. When people do not see the efforts as meaningful and efffective, they will often discontinue service and flounder in their walk with Christ.
As an aside, the question must be asked: How should leaders recognize the efforts of others? There is a general principle that should be noted. Praise the team or ministry group in public. Better yet, give God the glory and praise for calling the _______ team/group to accomplish the (name of the task or accomplishment). However, recognize the effective efforts of individuals in private. Leaders could make a phone call or send a note that recogizes the sacrifice and efforts of others. I learned this lesson some time ago. There is a major event that our church conducts each year. Last year, I enlisted someone to be an administrative assistant to me. She went above and beyond with every task I gave her. So, at the end of the event, before dismissing the large crowd, I asked her to stand and I recognized her efforts. This was a sincere gesture of appreciation. Within minutes of the dismissal, she came to me and stated emphatically that if I ever did that again, she would refuse any opportunity to assist me in the future. Yikes! I broke a big rule. Recognize groups in public and individuals in private. Give God the praise for His work of equipping and acknowledge the obedient acts of His people.
Read the previous posts in this series:
The Four Hurdles to Volunteer Ministry Overview
Who is “Called?”
Are Pastors Killing the Ministry?
Big Scary Volunteer Jobs
You may want to click on the subscription link to the right to get the updates delivered to your email.
Also you may want to view past topics on volunteer ministry by visiting the BiG IdEaS link.
Shepherding Well 