Are you in any children’s ministry Facebook groups? I am in several of them and I have noticed that frequently on Sunday mornings those leading children’s ministry lament their volunteers who may call out leaving them short staffed.
There are times that I will question how they view their volunteers which often leads to them “pushing back” on my comments.
Have there been times when those serving with you have “called out” and not shown up to serve? I am sure that you have experienced those days. How did you react?
I serve in a small church. If all of the children who attend our mid-week program are present, we have 21 children in preschool and the elementary groups. Let me share what happened recently.
All of my preschool leaders were expected and present for the club night. The elementary aged group had the following play-out. On Tuesday, the person scheduled to lead game time realized that they were double booked for the night. Another leader asked of they could have the night off and I told them it was okay and I would handle game time.
Wednesday came and I received texts from two leaders that they would not make it. One was the admin person so I would now handle check in, etc. This left one other leader and myself. As the night began, that leader was not there because they were caring for their child who was ill.
So what was my reaction when now I was the only leader for elementary group?
I was not upset with my those who serve along side of me who could not make it, I simply began working on making sure I was covered child protection wise so I was not alone with the children by texting the preschool leaders and working with them to make sure that I was not alone.
You may wonder how I managed the elementary group by myself. As I noted, I am in a small church. That night there were five in preschool and five in the elementary group. I had five children.
I was not upset with the volunteers not being there. They generally let me know ahead of time when they cannot make it; ask if they have something that they would like to do as a family that night causing them to miss the night; and they truly care for the children.
I do not have any issues encouraging the leaders to do something special with their families because I know that they have lives outside of serving alongside of me in ministry and I know their dedication to God and that they are raising their families to live for Him.
My volunteers are special to me. Not because they serve alongside of me, but because they share a heart to reach children with the Gospel. I also know that there are times when I may not be able to make it and I know that when I am not there, that they are able to run the program well.
How do you view your volunteers? Do you lament when they are unable to be at club? Do you understand their life situations? Do you work with them as they raise their families?
