During the 40 years Anne Stone has been a member of First Baptist Church, Huntsville, in Madison Baptist Association, she has remained active in ministries that range from singing in the choir to teaching adults to tutoring children — all as a volunteer.
Stone believes her years of service are not only biblical but said they have also given her a personal satisfaction.
"The greatest reward is the sense of being involved in God’s work — eternal work that will be here long after I’m in heaven," she said. "Besides it’s just plain fun to be involved with people learning and growing in their lives."
David Hull, pastor of First, Huntsville, said there are many more volunteer hours than paid hours logged every week at his church — and that’s the way God intended it to be. "The more people who can be involved — that makes the church more alive," he said.
First, Huntsville, is trying to be intentional about fitting its members with "the most meaningful place of service." Currently the congregation is in the middle of a major initiative to help church members discern their spiritual gifts and then match their gifts with needs as they arise.
"We also encourage people to walk around and talk to others who are involved in ministry and see what they think might fit them best as well as offer short-term volunteer opportunities," Hull said.
Giving members a chance to volunteer for small periods of time — even just a day — gives them a chance to have a good experience and want to keep going, Hull explained.
"We want to make sure our church is the kind of place where everyone is mobilized according to their gifts, experiences and personalities," Hull said.
Reggie Quimby, director of the office of global partnerships and volunteers in missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said Alabama Baptist churches have done an excellent job in recruiting volunteers for weekly roles in the churches.
But he quickly adds more church workers are needed. "Only about 20 percent of believers in each church are taking some sort of active volunteer role in the church and outside the church."
He believes the main challenge in finding workers to teach Sunday School or a Bible study, serve as ushers and fill other church needs is that many are willing but do not know how to manage their time.
"The stewardship of time is the biggest hurdle for all church members that are involved in their community and their church," Quimby said. "We must do a better job in our teaching of time commitment to serve the Lord through His church." (TAB)
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