Here are some suggestions for energizing those volunteers who help in achieving our ministry goals.

1. Volunteers give their best when they feel appreciated. Consider how much more you're willing to give when the pastor, board member, or other church leaders express appreciation for your work. Do you remember to share that with others? Do you remember to express my appreciation to my volunteers?

2. Volunteers will get the job done, if they are given enough flexibility. Allow them the flexibility to do things their way. Trust them to accomplish the task, however they choose to do it.

3. Volunteers need a job description. People more willing accept responsibility and are able to accomplish a task when they know the expectations. Job descriptions help to clarify responsibilities.

4. Volunteers need the authority to do their jobs. People can't accomplish a task if the leader is constantly looking over their shoulders.

5.   Volunteers need relational support. Sometimes this means a listening ear as they work through a struggle or share a concern. It may be all the volunteers need is to have someone listen to the end of the sentence.

6. Volunteers need to know there is freedom to fail. Failure is a great learning experience, if we see in that manner. Failure can be a great teacher on how to approach things differently. Failure should never be viewed as a rationale for quitting.

7.  Volunteers need celebrations. When a goal has been achieved, an event completed, a new ministry started, and a variety of other reasons, celebrate.

Without volunteers, our ministries would never accomplish their objectives. Yet volunteers need to know they are valued and appreciated. It only takes a short amount of time and results in big dividends.

Editor's note: Adapted from “Vitamins for Volunteers,” Just Between Us , Fall 1999.