Volunteer or Called?

Even in smaller churches like mine, we need all the help we can get. Often just a hand full of people end up doing all of the jobs. I remember at a former church I was at, I was the music minister, interim pastor, Sunday school teacher, and sign changer. It was exhausting work. I am also stretched too thin at my current church where I am the minister of music, Sunday school teacher, VBS director, website administrator, and I preach when given the opportunity. It does become tiresome at times but I have never regretted working for the Lord. I have a calling in my life and I am a volunteer. I'm not bragging by any means, I'm just stating the facts. Churches need willing volunteers but I believe they need to be called by God as well.

I suscribe to Paul Clark's email updates for music ministers. I always enjoy his thougtful insight and tips. Today's email contained a really great article about the difference in being a volunteer and being called by God. I thought I would share the below 10 statements with you that he quoted from Rory Noland:

1. Volunteers see their involvement at church as community service, but people called of God see it as ministry.

2. Volunteers whine about what it's going to cost to serve, but people who are called are committed to serving.

3. Volunteers shrink back from resolving relational conflict, but people called of God seek to resolve relational conflict for the sake of unity in the church.

4. Volunteers look upon rehearsal as another commitment they're obligated to fulfill, but people called of God look forward to rehearsal as another opportunity to be used by God.

5. Volunteers do no outside practicing or preparation, but people who are called of God come to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible.

6. Volunteers are not open to constructive criticism; they get defensive about it. But people called of God are grateful for feedback because they want to be the best they can be.

7. Volunteers feel threatened by the talent of others, but people called of God praise Him for distributing gifts and talents as he chooses.

8. Volunteers want to quit at the first sign of adversity or discouragement, but people called of God dig in and persevere.

9. Volunteers find their main source of fulfillment in their talents and abilities, but people called of God know that being used of God is the most fulfilling thing you can do with your life.

10. Volunteers can't handle being put in situations in which they're going to be stretched, but people called of God respond to God's call with humble dependence on Him

What are your thought?