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?

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A little hands on

I attended a Music Minister's Roundtable this evening at Sevier Heights Baptist church. It was hosted by Paul Clark, of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. They had two different sessions today. The early one was from 8:00 - 2:00. I didn't feel that I could miss work all day, so I went to the one for bi-vocational music ministers that was held from 4:00 - 6:00. There was only 7 of us in attendance, plus Paul.

Highlights for Roundtables 2008 – Theme: Do You Hear the People Sing?

A challenge to find out how well your people are singing their worship

Roundtable discussions & resource sharing - helping our people sing in corporate worship

Biblical and Theological foundations – Eight scripture passages to help your people sing

Preview/Overview of LifeWay’s new Baptist Hymnal/Worship Hymnal

Closer Look at LifeWay’s “Worship Project” products and services

Discussion about copyright issues and Worship Music Resources

Fabulous giveaways at each location!

I wish I could have attended the earlier session because I feel they probably hit more on the above subjects than what we were able to do in 2-hours. We mainly focused on Lifeway's new " Worship Project." Of course this centers around the Baptist Hymnal, which Lifeway generously gave each person in attendance a free copy. My church does not use the Baptist Hymnal, although I wish we would consider adding it in to our worship services. I love all types of Christian music and I think the new Baptist Hymnal has an excellent mixture of traditional, contemporary, and gospel tunes. I made a plea to those in attendance for anyone wishing to donate their old Baptist Hymnals to a worthy cause (my choir). I already use several songs from the hymnal in the music that I pick out for the choir. I just don't mention that it's from the Baptist Hymnal. I think if folks would open their mind and give the hymnal a chance, they would really love it. But, like I said, perhaps eventually we can use it along with our current song books.

I've worked in church ministry for most of my adult life. It is something that I love to do and feel led by God to do. Honestly I love doing church work more than anything else in my life. I wish I could be full-time instead of bi-vocational. I feel like I could do so much more and make such a difference in people's lives if I could focus only on that. Maybe one day it will be God's will for me to do just that.

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