Summary: One of the hardest seasons of a ministry leader is when volunteers stop serving in your ministry. It can be a difficult cycle. Lead Volunteers can help you through coaching, developing a plan, and having someone who’s been there in your corner.

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Have you ever had that horrible season when volunteers are dropping like flies? You ask yourself, “Is it me? Is it a weird and busy season for people? Is God trying to tell me something?” Then another good volunteer quits. So much is lost when a good volunteer says, “I think God is calling me to do something different”. Your heart sinks. Why?

Well, you know that it is so time consuming to START OVER with someone new. Now we go right back to the starting block and do it all over again. It’s a terrible cycle. You begin to feel like the guy in Dante’s Inferno, who’s plight is to push a huge boulder up a huge hill only for it to roll right back down before it reaches the top. Over and over the cycle goes. You feel like you are stuck somewhere between an impossibility and a cruel form of mental torture.

I want to tell you of a better day. There is a day coming when you WILL push that rock up onto a plateau. It does NOT need to be an uphill battle forever. I know it is hard. And sometimes, it brings tears. Do not quit.

Here is what I have to offer you. It may not be much. I offer you myself. I give you my friendship through this Lead Volunteers course and through these videos and through the Lead Volunteers coaching platform. I am here to help. I built this to help. You need someone in your corner who has been there. You need someone who has found a way OUT of the insanity. Let me help you. I want to invite you to join the Lead Volunteers Community and start gaining traction as a leader. It is time to get a plan. Let’s get that huge bolder up that hill. We can do this together.

Summary: When we spend all of our time recruiting, we cannot get to the bigger things. Having a healthy volunteer system will give you the margin you need to accomplish your ministry dreams.

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Here is a painful reality: When we spend all of our time recruiting, we CANNOT GET TO THE BIGGER THINGS. If you are always recruiting and filling holes, you are not appreciating and developing those you already have. If you can’t keep those you already have, you will be sunk all over again.

Dream with me for a moment what you could do to shore up OTHER AREAS if you simply had your volunteer needs in a healthy place. Imagine with me the margin. Imagine that extra mental and emotional space. Maybe even a space to dream of the future and not be stuck in the present rut. What if you had margin at your fingertips? What would you try to move ahead? What would you do with that extra margin?

Someone out there likely whispered, “Take a Nap”. I get it. Would you do me a favor? Would you write down on a scrap of paper just one thing you would love to tackle or address if you had the time? Now I want you to envision that thing getting completed.

Through the Lead Volunteers Course you will get better. You will get organized. You will have a systematized plan for approaching recruiting, training and retaining volunteers. And that item or items you wrote down, yes, those items you only dream could get accomplished? You can make them a reality.

I want to personally invite you to take the next step. I want you to join the Lead Volunteers Community today. Lead Volunteers IS an investment. It will cost you some of your budget. Lead Volunteers will cost you some time. However, what is the cost of you NOT investing in yourself as a leader? What is NOT getting done because you lack a healthy volunteer system? Stop the chaos. Start dreaming again. Join Lead Volunteers and let’s do this thing…together.

Summary: Ministry can be a lonely place. You may be surrounded by people but unable to share deep concerns with even your closest friends. Lift your needs up to God in prayer.

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Volunteers grow in the Lord when they serve. When people don’t catch the vision for THEIR OWN personal betterment through serving, so much is lost. You end up compromising what is BEST for people and what is BEST for the ministry under the heading of “slot filling”. The worst part is that people miss out on seeing transformation within their own lives and on making an impact on others.

Listen. People who serve in ministry have a tremendous opportunity to grow as people and grow in their relationship with God. But we often settle for doing it….alone. Ministry can be a lonely place. We see how great it could be, but we as leaders, end up feeling like a failure. You end up feeling isolated.

Years ago, I told another leader, “Ministry is the loneliest people job there is.” Here is the thing: We are surrounded by people but there things we cannot share nor confide with even our closest friends at the church. They can tell YOU their job is not going that well, but it is hard to tell people at church YOUR job isn’t going well. My best answer for you today – lift this up to the Lord.

The Lead Volunteers course pales in comparison to what God can do for us through prayer. The Bible says, “You receive not because you ask not.” Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”. He is the Good Shepherd. He gets it. Stop right now and talk to Him.

I want to ask you something as well. What is holding you back from joining the Lead Volunteers Learning Community? I know we could help support you in some great ways. Let me know what is holding you back. Send me an email and let’s start the discussion.

Summary: When I started in ministry, no one told me that as a Shepherd, sometimes the sheep bite. But it happens.

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I have been in ministry long enough to know the normal ups and downs. There are emotional peeks and valleys. During those emotional valleys, however, is where we need to take extra care of ourselves.

You begin to feel exhausted, disappointed and frustrated. You just wished people could “Get It”. You are a shepherd. You have been called to help lead these sheep. It’s hard, though, isn’t it? Being a shepherd is hard.

When I started in ministry, no one told me that as a Shepherd, sometimes the sheep bite. Then it happens. At just the wrong emotional moment, someone lashes out at you. You feel disenfranchised. You feel demoralized. You feel like hiding. You feel….unqualified. You still have to lead volunteers, but you wonder who will attack next. From where might the next attack come? Don’t they know that this is hard? Don’t they know that it would be easier with just a little additional support from volunteers?

But you now have this sense of paranoia. You start to ask, “Who is trustworthy?” I understand. Betrayal and hurt are part of the ministry. Welcome to the club. It’s happened to me. It hurts. It heals, sure, but I sometimes found myself a little paranoid, honestly. I have lived this life. Take heart. In this world you will have trouble. Rise up, don’t fight back and keep leading.

I want you to be a part of our deeper learning community. Listen. So many other people in your life DO NOT UNDERSTAND what it is like. You can feel alone. I want you to feel supported and understood. What is holding you back from joining the Lead Volunteers learning community? When you join the community, you become an exclusive member of a closed Facebook group of like minded leaders who are learning what you are learning, experiencing what you are experiencing and sharing victories as well as strategies. Beyond this, I do offer a personalized coaching package where you can meet directly with me for one-on-one video calls through Zoom.

Learning awaits. Leadership growth awaits. Practical resources await. Community awaits. Join us today.

Summary: Regardless of our specific ministry context or event the tasks before us, it is all about the Gospel. Everything we do is for one end: The Gospel. We want nothing more than the message of Jesus to be clearly communicated to our community.

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Regardless of our specific ministry context, we all have projects, programs or events that require huge amounts of effort. It can feel overwhelming at times. In the midst of it all, in the quiet of our hearts, we will inevitably ask ourselves, “What is the point?”

Well, it is the Gospel. Our labor is for the Good News of Jesus Christ. We organize for the opportunity to proclaim salvation. We recruit and rally a regiment of moms, dads, senior saints and seniors in high school for one end: The Gospel. Our drive, our determination and our dedication are singularly directed: It is the Gospel.

The fun is a bonus. The laughter from games is a joyful noise. The challenge of scheduling is an outlet for our well-managed OCD. And — in a weird way — we love it. Yet, when it is all said and done, it IS about the Gospel. The songs point to the cross. Our prayers are ratcheted up a notch. Our hearts swell as we see impromptu gatherings of volunteers in prayer.

We all want nothing more than the message of Jesus to be clearly communicated to our community. It is about the Gospel. The Gospel compels me. It is the why behind every late-night push, the fuel behind every conquered roadblock and prize at the end of this race. It is about the GOSPEL. May we never forget the promises found in scripture concerning our efforts. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Nothing you do in the Lord is in vain.”

One of the reasons I created Lead Volunteers was to help YOU find joy in this journey. I would like to personally invite you to become part of this powerful community. Today. Join LeadVolunteers.com and let’s help each other keep the main thing, the main thing.

Summary: You have likely been in a place where you felt as if you had exhausted all your resources and had no options for finding volunteers. Join us in Lead Volunteers to make steps forward in a strong ministry foundation.

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Tell me if you have ever been in this space: You feel you have exhausted your relationships and resources. You do not even know where else you would go to find someone to volunteer with you. It feels like you have exhausted all of your resources.

Have you ever been there? You feel you have asked EVERYONE you know to ask and you are still coming up short. Somehow you feel like you have not been faithful to your post. You fear that if you do not find some people to serve with you, that you will be personally letting people and the church down.

You know that the appearance of an “Understaffed Ministry” causes people to view this as a potential “Failing Ministry”. This then self perpetuates like an uncontrolled SNOWBALL rolling down a hill. You fear losing face, embarrassment and possibly even being let go from your ministry position.

I have had these fears. I imagine you have had these fears as well. Here is my advice. Follow me into the Lead Volunteers Course. Come back and check it out again. Let’s take steps toward your growth. I want you to think of it this way. Those who have joined the Lead Volunteer Learning community are able to log into the site, watch a video, read a section, reflect, and add ONE MORE well laid brick in their future ministry house. I want to build that ministry house with you. I want to help you make every brick matter. I want you to set that next brick so solid and secure that it builds not only a foundation but a fortress for their future.

Here is the commitment: 45-minutes per week for 6 months. That is it. You work at your own pace. The material is yours for life. The material is completely linear and straightforward. Think of it as a mini-breakout session with me, Josh, once a week. Trust me, you will be glad you did. Join what others have found to be a helpful and healthy path toward Leading Volunteers. Join us today.

Summary: Volunteer leadership is delicate, and the heart of your ministry can take a hit if volunteers leave with a bad impression. It takes work to protect volunteer health and maintain a thriving ministry ecosystem.

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Volunteer leadership is a very delicate thing. It is kind of like a very tender and delicate ecosystem where the balance is fragile. Just like a complex rainforest depends on certain species to remain in order for there to be health and sustainability. Ecosystems are fragile in many ways. You have an ecosystem at your church. You have the job of cultivating that garden and maintaining that tender balance.

Yet, it all begins to crumble when a key volunteer leaves with a bad taste in their mouth. And like an uncontrolled fire that spreads down the halls of the church, people start to ask the question, “Is there a problem here?” This in turn, leads to others who consider leaving as well. Morale is lowered and the entire heart of the ministry takes a hit.

It IS a tender ecosystem. So much of this weighs heavier when you are at a smaller or medium sized church. People notice challenges or problems and word spreads. “That ministry used to be so fun and encouraging. They used to seem so prepared and it is just not that way any more.” Potential volunteers see chaos and do not want to join. Things CAN quickly spiral out of control.

Here is the thing. We have a lot of things on our plates. However, the volunteer plate is likely the most important one. I want you to join me today and become a part of the Lead Volunteers Learning Community. I want to help you maintain your ministry health. Let’s make sure YOU are vigilantly protecting that fragile ecosystem called Volunteer Health. Join us today and start learning. LeadVolunteers.com is built for you, the ministry leader, to have all the tools you need to build a healthy volunteer ecosystem. Join today.

Summary: Have you ever been told about a new church endeavor that would require you to staff a program requiring even MORE volunteers? This could be on top of already managing untold pressures and relying on a team of people who give their time without pay. Ministry leadership can be hard and at times painful, but you don’t have to do it without support.

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Have you even had one of those seasons where you feel you are walking into a sleet storm pushed by driving winds? You feel like your face is being pelted with small little ice daggers.
Listen, ministry can be hard. Not to mention, it doesn’t pay well. You have untold pressures and need a team of people willing to give their time without pay. Remember, our “staff teams” are volunteers and they do this for free.

When that driving storm includes being told by senior leaders that they are starting a new endeavor that will require MORE volunteers, a deeper sense of stress settles into your heart. I have sat in that chair. I can visualize it right now. I remember being told we were starting a Saturday service in 4 weeks and it needed a full scale Sunday school…or I suppose a SATURDAY school in this case. I was devastated. Not only did my workload instantly increase, my volunteer load did as well. Not to mention, I had just 4 weeks to make this happen.

Maybe you have been there as well. You enter into the “Gotta Make It Happen” mode. Yet, you are edging dangerously close to full-scale burnout. Those closest to us start feeling the brunt of this situation; our loved ones get hurt and feel abandoned. How is it that you feel I know you just a little too well? How is it that you feel I am somehow reading your journal or even reading your mind?

Here is how I know. I have lived it. I am sorry that it gets this hard and even painful. I am here to support you. The best way I can support you is to sit down with you and work through some of these things. Here is the cool thing, because of technology, we can meet and move your ministry ahead ANY TIME YOU you want.

I want you to join the Lead Volunteers Learning Community. Lead Volunteers is like a breakout session that is ready and waiting for you – anytime. Let’s do it. Let’s set a time, very soon, and make progress on your goals. We can meet through this platform each and every time YOU are ready. This is made for you. Join us today. Join Lead Volunteers and let’s get you prepared for whatever comes tomorrow.

Summary: A time is coming when you are going to need your leadership game to be a level up from where it is now. You don’t know what is to come or when the next challenge will be, but now is the time to be prepared for that next level.

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I am not really a big sports guy, but I have been exercising pretty consistently for the last couple of years. At the place I work out, they have these things they call, “Bench Mark Challenges.” They are like annual “Check-Ins” to see if you are making progress. One is the “one-mile-challenge”. Umm, yes. Running a mile. I had not done this since they made us do it in junior high. The first one I ran was an 8 minute and 34 second mile. Not bad. But I was dying.

Here is the thing, these challenges come up just a few times a year. They do not tell you when the “Bench Mark Challenges” are scheduled. You just show up at the gym and BAM. You learn that is the day you are running the mile and they are marking your time. I ran my second one. I ran it in 7 minutes and 32 seconds. I shaved over a full minute off of my time. How did this happen? Well, I worked out 3-4 times a week and pushed just a little bit during each of those workouts. I did not over exert. I just did a little bit at a time. And, guess what? I got better.

A day is coming when you are going to NEED your leadership game to be higher than it is right now. You do not know when that time is coming, however. When it comes, the moments of “Should have...Could have...and Regrets” is pointless. It is time PLUS consistency of behavior that will yield results.

Join me. I want you to consider joining the Lead Volunteers Learning Community. Let’s hit the leadership gym. I do have one important promise, however: We will not be running the mile. Join Lead Volunteers today.

Summary: A recent survey showed four factors experienced by volunteers who were NOT experiencing burnout. Do you have the resources to enhance these factors?

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A recent survey of volunteers indicated 4 key factors in the volunteers who were NOT experiencing burnout. #1 - They Felt Appreciated  #2 - They Felt Fulfilled  #3 - They Enjoyed People With Whom They Served  #4 - They Felt Supported by the Staff or Pastor.  These are key factors in preventing burnout.

People need to feel appreciated.  People need to feel like their role matters.  People need to experience community. People need to feel like they are supported by someone in charge.

Question: Do you have the resources at your fingertips to enrich these factors? Are you implementing a well-constructed plan or are you just winging it?  Lead Volunteers is a Master Level Course and Downloadable Implementation System that allows you to pour into these areas right now. You know you need them. You know you should build them. Sunday is always coming and the important is always squeezed out by the urgent.

Listen, these things are not rocket science. Honestly, so much of what I have created is just common-sense-ministry.  There is nothing new under the sun. But most of this is NOT being done.

Let us help you cut some corners. I am here to help you fast-track a proven plan.

LEADVOLUNTEERS helps you get organized, stops the revolving door of volunteers and prevents burnout. Why not let me do the heavy lifting for you. You need help and I’m here to help.  Join LEADVOLUNTEERS.com today!