The main reason–legendary service begins with knowing that there are two sides of the service counter.  Not only are behind-counter tasks important, so are things on the front side of the counter.  This means cleaning and forming conversations with customers.  A lot of Starbucks partners have forgotten this fact.  They, quite frankly, don’t care about the other side of the counter.  It makes them just like any other fast food employee.  It’s not legendary.

No, I haven’t forgotten I’m writing on a kid’s ministry blog and not a business blog.  Just give me a second.  We as kids’ ministry people (and ministry people in general) have a tendency to barricade ourselves.  Behind the stage, on the stage, in a back room, in a sound booth.  Instead of heading out before the service and hanging out with the kids, we’re too busy “hiding”.  Yes, I realize you have to prepare.  I get that.  But don’t forget that you’re serving those kids.  Your ministry is to share the love of Christ with them.  You have to spend time with them to do that.  They’ll remember you more.  They’ll connect with you more.

I’m far from innocent in this area.  I feel that most of us are probably that way.  Make a special effort to talk to some kids this Sunday.  Don’t make them come to you.  Go talk to them.  Remember- there’s two sides.

Appreciating your volunteers is important, especially in younger generations like mine.  We like to know that we’re really being helpful and doing good.  It’s important to us in any area of life.  There’s an issue though.  In a lot of ministries, “volunteer appreciation” means a sheet of paper that says “You’re a lifesaver!” with a mint in the middle.  The thought is appreciated, but it usually doesn’t mean much.

When was the last time you shot off a phone call or email to a volunteer just to say, “Thanks for changing the life of a child”?   Better yet, when is the last time you took your volunteer to lunch just to say thank you?  Make volunteer appreciation more than a cheesy candy gift.  Make it something real- something a volunteer can walk away from and feel encouraged and cared for.  Make it personal.

This evening I was reading through my devotional book I read every night, Extreme Devotion.  (It’s really great, and you can check it out by clicking its picture to the left.)  Today’s devotion was about a missionary who went to Korea in the 1800s with a Korean Bible in tow.  The missionary was killed before he ever spoke to a single Korean.  However, his Bible is still read today by Christians in the restricted nation of North Korea.  Over 150 years later, his action and subsequent death are still a testimony to Korean Christians.

You know what’s so cool about that?  He had nothing to do with the growth but planting the seed.  It’s kind of like he planted a garden then had to move away, so someone else started tending it.  That’s where the parallel comes in.

Sometimes (no, most of the time) we have trouble letting go of our “gardens”.  You know them: the ministries, events, duties, etc. that you’ve always done.  It might be camp, VBS, summer outreaches, or whatever you may do.  It’s your baby and you don’t want to let it go.  The thing is, sometimes in order for it to really grow, you need to let go of it.

The death of any great ministry can be a leader who won’t let go.  It’s just like a parent who won’t let go of their child once they’re out on their own.  God has put volunteers in your church specifically so you can let go.  I appreciate being able to serve under a children’s pastor like Ryan, who’s willing to let go of these projects when he can.  For instance, a good portion of our VBS planning has been handed off to one of our best volunteers, Carol, for several years now.  There was an opportunity to let go, and he took it.  It’s helped both Ryan and our VBS in the long run having someone with the resources necessary to really invest in the ministry.  He recognized that a volunteer was put in his path to be a great resource for him.

So what this summer could you hand off to one of your “resources?”  Look at the things you refuse to let go of, but could really use someone else to tend to them who has the time and know-how.  Use the amazing volunteers God has blessed you with to their fullest!  It is called “summer break” after all.

“My first few years as CP, at Christmas people would donate candy for the Christmas sacks for kids. We received a lot of Hershey’s Kisses in holiday colors. I would separate the colors, give the silver ones for Christmas, the red ones for Valentines and the green ones for St. Pat’s day. That made our candy stretch to non-candy donation holidays.”

That is most likely the strangest, yet most resourceful idea I’ve ever heard.  We’ve sent an email off to the winner, and she’ll be receiving her prize pack soon!  Stay tuned in the future for more giveaways!

1. Ask for the right volunteers.
   I know you’ve probably heard this a kajillion times, but don’t beg for volunteers.  Instead, start your summer volunteer search with an intimate time with God, asking Him to provide the volunteers you need.  I love the way the Message puts this passage from Matthew 9: “So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. ‘How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!’”  When you involve God from the very beginning, things change.  He’ll bring the volunteers you need.  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask for volunteers.  Just involve God.
2. Remind them that what they’re doing is important.
   Something that has always helped me as a volunteer to keep from being burnt out is remembering how important what I’m doing is.  I’m helping to show children that a really cool, amazing God loves them and has a plan for them.  I’m helping their families grow together.  I’m helping the children’s pastor to not lose his/her mind.  (Most of the time.)  Make sure your volunteers aren’t serving out of obligation, but because their actions matter.  It may just be one or two weeks a summer, but their volunteering still matters.  It’ll make all the difference in keeping them interested.
3. Treat them well.
   Even though I’m a volunteer, I still enjoy treating the other volunteers.  Every summer, I try to bring homemade cookies and coffee (good stuff, not the Sam’s Club brand junk) to share with the other volunteers at our events.  It’s always appreciated.  (Or so they tell me.)  Care for your volunteers.  You’re not the queen of a beehive in charge of hundreds of worker bees who are in charge of the children.  You’re in charge of people.  Treat them right!  They’ll respect you more, and they’ll have a better attitude too.  I speak from experience, amigos.

How do you keep your volunteers around?  How do you get them?  Let us know in the comments!

All you have to do is go to newhighwayvideo.com and sign up for their newsletter. I’m not sure how much of this stuff will be applicable to children’s ministry, but it’s still going to be great stuff. Check it out!

Our Walmart has serious problems.  People drive carts like crazy people, parking is a nightmare, the security sensor is overzealous, the store is dirty and understocked, and it’s just generally the last place on my list of potential places to shop.  When I can go to another store in town that doesn’t have most of those issues, I will.  That’s an easy decision.

Too many ministries are like our Walmart.  They’re horribly understaffed, parents have to wait forever to check in their child, the environment isn’t clean and welcoming, and it’s not a great place to be.  It doesn’t impart an image of “God’s best”.  It’s imparting more of a message of “we don’t care”.  On the other hand, I’ve seen other ministries with plenty of staff to go around, quick check-in, clean environments, and a welcoming nature.  They’re imparting that they care.  They want to share God’s message in the best way they can.

Look at your ministry through the eyes of a parent who is “church shopping”.  Which church are you going to choose: the busy, dirty one or the clean, organized one?  Yes, there are many other concerns in choosing a church, but these areas are the first impressions.  They form the very important opinion the parents form first.  Work this week on seeing if there’s some way you can speed up check-in.  Try and find some more volunteers, and get more regular commitment from those who are there.  Make sure things are clean.  What are some simple ways you can start becoming less like Walmart this week?

If you love K! Magazine, we’d really love it if you’d leave a review on our Magazines.com page and let other people know how much you enjoy the magazine.  We’d appreciate it, and you’ll be helping others to make their decision as well!  Check it out.