Have you ever thought about all the things you are asking volunteers to believe and have faith in?
In addition to having faith in Christ, volunteers must believe or have faith in many areas in order to have staying power at a Pregnancy Center.
I’ve thought of just a few:
- The sanctity of human life
- Speaking the truth in love is our calling
- The importance of ministry over manipulation
- The Holy Spirit is always by their side when they are with a client
- Their job is not to save or transform but to love and serve
- They are being transformed into the image of Christ
- What they are doing matters in the kingdom of God
Have you ever thought about how to reinforce and strengthen your volunteers’ faith in these areas? I imagine that it could improve how long a volunteer might continue to volunteer.
Consistent communication, support and envisioning volunteers in these faith areas are so important.
How might you do that?
- Sign up for a free Mail Chimp or Convert Kit account and design a lovely template for a volunteer newsletter and send regular volunteer newsletters that focus on these topics.
- Pick a faith issue to discuss during each in-service.
- Address the faith and belief issues during your initial volunteer training. Some of them are already built-in to the Equipped to Serve training.
- Send volunteers notes and cards to encourage them in these areas.
- Ask volunteers to re-read certain sections of their training manual to renew and refresh certain topics.
- Hang inspiring scripture verses up in the volunteer break room that specifically address the various faith issues:
- Ask volunteers good questions to see how they are doing with a specific faith issue. For example:
- “Now that you have been volunteering for a while, how do you better understand the difference between ministry and manipulation?”
- “How have you experienced the Holy Spirit’s help when you are with a client?”
- Give verbal encouragement to volunteers in a specific faith area. For example:
- “It might not seem like it some days, but I want you to know what you are doing here matters for the kingdom of God. Thanks so much for coming in today.”
- “I am so grateful that you have chosen to volunteer with us. I see you reflecting Christ in your care for clients in the following ways . . . .”