Comments on: Stop Looking for Volunteers http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/ notes on a ministry and a changing world Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:08:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: kim http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-644 kim Sun, 08 Apr 2007 03:47:08 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-644 amen!we as christians we often get ahead of ourselves by taking time and matters in our own hands,but what we fail to realize is that all time belongs to God.If God gives you a task as a leader that requires help,you can believe that he'll send you the right people for what ever it is that he's set upon your heart to do and they will be equipt and qualified to do the task that God has set before them.So i am agreeing, stop looking for volunters and start praying for true labourers for christ!! amen!we as christians we often get ahead of ourselves by taking time and matters in our own hands,but what we fail to realize is that all time belongs to God.If God gives you a task as a leader that requires help,you can believe that he’ll send you the right people for what ever it is that he’s set upon your heart to do and they will be equipt and qualified to do the task that God has set before them.So i am agreeing, stop looking for volunters and start praying for true labourers for christ!!

]]> By: Julie http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-512 Julie Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:24:05 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-512 Tinu, this is exactly what I needed to hear with the challenges facing our church right now. Thank you so much--I'll refer back to your post often. Tinu, this is exactly what I needed to hear with the challenges facing our church right now. Thank you so much–I’ll refer back to your post often.

]]> By: John M http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-343 John M Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:39:09 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-343 Wow, Tinu. Thanks for sharing this with us. Wow, Tinu. Thanks for sharing this with us.

]]> By: Lynn http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-341 Lynn Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:41:39 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-341 AMEN!!! AMEN!!!

]]> By: Tinu http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-339 Tinu Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:15:11 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-339 This is wonderful and very refreshing to read from someone raised in the American church. Coming to the USA as a missionary, I was quite shocked to hear the term "volunteers." We were raised to respond to God's call on our lives. It was all part of our foundational teaching after new birth. In the USA, We found that people wanted to be invited, and cuddled and appreciated every time they did something in God's house. For us, this was totally foreign. Yes, a volunteer may not be paid by man but surely there is a Master who has invested gifts and talents in His servants on which He expects "profits." No, there is no volunteer in the body of Christ, but ministers. A minister is someone who is using his/her own resources to serve God as He serves others. Should we appreciate all those who spend so much time helping in the local churches? Absolutely. For our Master always says well done {He is not a task master); so should we. But should we beg and pander to the whims of the ever-so-busy christian who has either not been taught to serve his loving but firm Master (or was taught but is to busy to serve)? No. We as the body of Christ, especially teachers and Pastors should raise new converts with the awareness of God not only being a loving Father, but a firm master. We really do have assignments from heaven: Ephesians 2:10 KJV 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. The teachings of Jesus makes this very clear. Jesus will one day rquire an account of the gifts and talents he invested in us. Matthew 25:19 MKJV 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them. Account of what? Of the gifts and talents He invested. I believe the Word of God shows us clearly how to get ministers for the work He called us to do: You either (1) pray them in as we see in Luke 10:2 MKJV 2 Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest. or (2)you raise them. The Apostle Paul teaches that as people are fed, there comes a time when they too will be able to feed others. This is how the body of Christ grows from generation to generation. This method, although may not be as fast we would want it to be, works all the time. Dear minister, you never know; may be God is preparing you and your church in the process of "waiting" for a bumper harvest. Peace! This is wonderful and very refreshing to read from someone raised in the American church. Coming to the USA as a missionary, I was quite shocked to hear the term “volunteers.” We were raised to respond to God’s call on our lives. It was all part of our foundational teaching after new birth. In the USA, We found that people wanted to be invited, and cuddled and appreciated every time they did something in God’s house. For us, this was totally foreign. Yes, a volunteer may not be paid by man but surely there is a Master who has invested gifts and talents in His servants on which He expects “profits.” No, there is no volunteer in the body of Christ, but ministers. A minister is someone who is using his/her own resources to serve God as He serves others. Should we appreciate all those who spend so much time helping in the local churches? Absolutely. For our Master always says well done {He is not a task master); so should we. But should we beg and pander to the whims of the ever-so-busy christian who has either not been taught to serve his loving but firm Master (or was taught but is to busy to serve)? No. We as the body of Christ, especially teachers and Pastors should raise new converts with the awareness of God not only being a loving Father, but a firm master.

We really do have assignments from heaven:
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The teachings of Jesus makes this very clear. Jesus will one day rquire an account of the gifts and talents he invested in us.

Matthew 25:19 MKJV
19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and took account with them.

Account of what? Of the gifts and talents He invested.

I believe the Word of God shows us clearly how to get ministers for the work He called us to do: You either (1) pray them in as we see in
Luke 10:2 MKJV
2 Then He said to them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest that He may send forth laborers into His harvest.

or (2)you raise them. The Apostle Paul teaches that as people are fed, there comes a time when they too will be able to feed others. This is how the body of Christ grows from generation to generation.

This method, although may not be as fast we would want it to be, works all the time. Dear minister, you never know; may be God is preparing you and your church in the process of “waiting” for a bumper harvest. Peace!

]]> By: Lynn http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-333 Lynn Fri, 30 Mar 2007 15:29:51 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-333 That's true John! It's also a pretty panicky feeling when time is ticking and that "right person for the right role" hasn't stepped forward! However...I can tell you from personal experience that when we do have the discipline to stop and listen to God and wait for God's time, it's INCREDIBLE what can happen! I've seen it time and time again with seemingly the least likely people! Gives me goosebumps every time! That’s true John! It’s also a pretty panicky feeling when time is ticking and that “right person for the right role” hasn’t stepped forward! However…I can tell you from personal experience that when we do have the discipline to stop and listen to God and wait for God’s time, it’s INCREDIBLE what can happen! I’ve seen it time and time again with seemingly the least likely people! Gives me goosebumps every time!

]]> By: John M http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-332 John M Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:59:59 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-332 I agree SBO. However, stopping to listen and discern God's will is hard to do sometimes. We get caught up in everyday tasks that make it easy to lose our focus. I agree SBO. However, stopping to listen and discern God’s will is hard to do sometimes. We get caught up in everyday tasks that make it easy to lose our focus.

]]> By: SBO http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-328 SBO Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:43:38 +0000 http://thelogosministry.wordpress.com/2007/03/30/stop-looking-for-volunteers/#comment-328 Intentionally stopping and making space to listen is so important to this process. Most of us are to busy trying to decide what to do, rather than trying to discern what God wants done! Intentionally stopping and making space to listen is so important to this process. Most of us are to busy trying to decide what to do, rather than trying to discern what God wants done!

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