No More Volunteers
As many of you know we are in the midst of planting a church in Moncks Corner, SC that will exist to see people far from God find Freedom through Jesus. We are about 6 weeks or so into this adventure and things are moving at a rapid pace.
One of the things I have been really cognizant of is that we are in the DNA stage as a church. Conceived on May 22nd 2011 with a launch of August 21st we have three tri-mesters of 30 days (yes, that is 90 days from idea to launch – that’s how we roll in the corner baby) and now we are in our second tri-mester. The morning sickness has stopped (well except for me on Sunday mornings) and we are starting to see hands, feet and features really develop.
Our DNA as a church is being set up and it will last a really long time. Anyone who has ever tried to transition an established church knows that the DNA can stick around for a very long time!
One of the very strong strands of DNA that I feel like God has given me a vision for is that we will not have any volunteers at Freedom Church. None. No children’s ministry volunteers. No tech volunteers. Not even parking or greeters will be volunteers. [box]The vision is too big and the prize is way too large to leave up to volunteers.[/box]
No more volunteers.
We want disciples.
I know, I know. It feels like simantics that a guy who writes books could spin for a great best seller, but hear me out.
Volunteers help.
Disciples create.
Volunteers need to love what they do.
Disciples love the house.
Volunteers don’t show up and expect you will find another volunteer.
Disciples are discipling and replace themselves.
Volunteers are on a team.
Disciples are on your team.
Volunteers eventually burn out.
Disciples grow and take on more territory.
It will take longer to develop disciples. It may even delay our growth at times. But in the end if we have people who are saved by Jesus, sold out to the house and living life-to-life with others in a discipling relationship Freedom Church will be better for it.
[box type="info"]A great resource is “Building a Discipling Culture” by Mike Breen available at www.weare3dm.com [/box]
Shawn,
I am inspired by your blog. God has laid it on my heart to pursue Church Planting and has given me a passion for the Goose Creek area. Several of the things I got out of this writing lines up with our coach has been speaking on. He said, “sometimes, when a church-planter begins, he is just trying to keep up with the blessings that God is throwing out; and it moves at such a fast rate, that they can’t keep up, they just keep growing.” I can see that in what you are expressing. Another is the volunteers relation. I like how you placed that. May the goal always be to make disciples and send them out to make even more. Inspired by it all, Thanks Shawn.