Their REAL jobs

Help your team members to know what their job is. That may sound obvious, but it’s not. If I had to guess, I would say that at least 75% of church volunteers don’t understand what their actual job is (and church staff percentages may not be much different). Let me give you a few examples from weekend services…

Worship team vocalists. They think that their main job is to sing. Wrong. That’s one of the ways in which they carry out their job, but it’s not the point. The point is to effectively lead people in worship. NOT to create great sounding music, although of course it would be wonderful if both could happen – the church is a place of worship (actually a gathering of worshippers), not a musical appreciation society.

Ushers. Ushers think their job is to direct people to their seats, or do a headcount, or collect the offering. Wrong on all three counts. Those are part of the way in which they do their job. Their primary purpose is to be welcoming and helpful, to show Christlike-care to guests and the “regulars.”

If the team members are doing their jobs – their REAL jobs – the church truly functions.

Help your team members to know what their job is. That may sound obvious, but it’s not. If I had to guess, I would say that at least 75% of church volunteers don’t understand what their actual job is (and church staff percentages may not be much different). Let me give you a few examples from weekend services…

Worship team vocalists. They think that their main job is to sing. Wrong. That’s one of the ways in which they carry out their job, but it’s not the point. The point is to effectively lead people in worship. NOT to create great sounding music, although of course it would be wonderful if both could happen – the church is a place of worship (actually a gathering of worshippers), not a musical appreciation society.

Ushers. Ushers think their job is to direct people to their seats, or do a headcount, or collect the offering. Wrong on all three counts. Those are part of the way in which they do their job. Their primary purpose is to be welcoming and helpful, to show Christlike-care to guests and the “regulars.”

If the team members are doing their jobs – their REAL jobs – the church truly functions.