Why the pulpit MUST volunteer

Now, obviously, those in positions of leadership can’t be a part of everything which happens within a church.

You can’t possibly be in two places at once.

Additionally, some ministries - by their very specifications - will be off-limits to an individual due to age or gender.

But, in the main, if someone at church is asking for volunteers then the person in vocational ministry should be putting their hand up.

Why?

Because it shows buy-in.

Sure, this volunteering may not result in the minister being involved full-time, but they should be willing to step up and fill a void in a useful ministry.

In doing so the request for others to be involved gets far easier.

But default, you’d hope that the ministry will have its profile raised due to the involvement of the minister. With their inclusion, the ministry should sneak its way into the mouth of the minister. It will become a sermon illustration. It will be mentioned in passing. It will be a blockage in the calendar which will need to be negotiated around.

This will raise the profile of the ministry.

Furthermore, the inclusion of the ministry agent will show support for the lay-person requesting help. The minister’s willingness to be involved communicates both value of the ministry and the leader of the ministry.

Finally, the inclusion of the minister greatly increases the effectiveness of the ask for help in the future.

As people hear more about the ministry from the pulpit…

As people sense the value the ministry has due to the minister’s investment…

Then a far more powerful ask can now be delivered…

Come and serve WITH ME.

This is a far more effective pitch.

But, this effective pitch in the future is only possible if the minister has the forethought to initially step up.