Volunteer Recruiting

Volunteer recruiting tricks, tips, and techniques

Volunteer Management

Tips on managing volunteers and volunteer-based projects.

Staff/Volunteer Leadership

Improve your leadership of volunteers for your cause

Field Notes

Guest posts and ideas from leaders in the trenches

In The News

The latest news articles related to volunteering

Home » Church Leadership, Featured, Volunteer Management

Volunteers need a tour guide, not a travel agent – walk with them

Submitted by James Higginbotham on June 2, 2008 – 8:00 amNo Comment

A travel agent hands you an airplane ticket and some things to do; a tour guide gives you an experience. Which one best represents you and your staff? If your staff are travel agents, they are probably more focused on managing programs – things to do. If your staff are tour guides, they are more interested in the journey and experiences of your volunteers first.

Volunteers need staff that will walk with them. Invest in them. Provide them with an experience that grows them. That is how Jesus approached ministry:

“…he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.” (Mat 8:23)

“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.” (Mat 9:10)

“Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.” (Mat 9:19)

“Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” (Mat 9:37)

Over and over we see Jesus spending time with the disciples, teaching them, growing them through experiences. Only after He did this for some time did He say:

“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” (Mat 10:1)

Notice the order: Jesus spent time with them, experienced life with Him, then sent the disciples out on their own.

Volunteers need a tour guide that will give them an experience, not just a task list.

This is part 1 in a 5 part series called “5 Things Volunteers Wish Their Staff Knew”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Comments are closed.