We cannot even begin to tell you how happy we are that you are interested in volunteering at Grace Fellowship.
We cannot do what we do without people like you. Grace is not a church without volunteers.
Grace Fellowship
Volunteer Code
INTRODUCTION
We are a church of Volunteers.
WHY WE VOLUNTEER
As in every area of our Christian life, the model for volunteering is Jesus Christ.
Jesus tells us in Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus teaches principles like the “last becoming first” and “dying to self.” These demonstrate that a Jesus-centered Christian possesses an others-focused lifestyle and mindset.
Here at Grace Fellowship, we want the servant’s heart and attitude of
Jesus to define what we do and how we act. It’s really important to keep in mind that volunteering at your church is just one piece of a servant-based lifestyle. Following and sharing Jesus should be a part of every aspect of our lives: family, work, social, church, etc.
A Jesus-centered Christian serves others. It’s the way of Jesus and, therefore, the way of every disciple.
THE GRACE WAY
Our mission at Grace is to help people live Jesus-centered lives.
Our church works hard to create a welcoming, open-house environment where guests and non-Christians are not only welcomed but are served with excellence. From the parking lot to the platform, every volunteer contributes to our ability to help encourage those in need and to further the gospel. Nothing Grace does can be accomplished without our amazing team of volunteers.
Please view your volunteering through the lens of the mission of Christ. In Matthew 28, Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations....” Our mission and culture are our best attempt to do that. We are not just trying to be a church. We strive to be a church on mission.
Remember that you are serving people, not some faceless customer or random number. We are ministering to human beings who will spend eternity somewhere. We need to take an eternal perspective on our volunteering. What we do really does affect eternity.
We are compelled by the mission of Christ. We are for our communities. We are marked by radical generosity. We are committed to multiplication.
The Bible tells us that when each of us uses our gifts to serve the church and reach the lost, Christ’s mission will move forward, and “the gates of hell will not overcome it.”
MATTHEW 1 6:18
5 STAR VOLUNTEERS
To accomplish the mission of helping people live Jesus-centered lives, Grace has teams of volunteers who have met Jesus, are following Him, see their service as a way to share Him, and multiply the mission. These teams are the hands and feet of Jesus in our church and our community.
We believe 5-star volunteers are teams made up of people who exhibit the following behaviors.
5 Star Volunteer
What is a 5 Star Volunteer?
Plays to Win
TAKES INITIATIVE – Great volunteers act like owners. Owners don’t just do a job that is “good enough.” If you see something that needs to be done, do it or inform someone else if you can’t do it. Our job as volunteers is to represent Jesus.
HAS A GUEST-ORIENTED MINDSET – Everything we do at Grace is aimed at helping people live Jesus-centered lives. Expect people who are far from Jesus, have drifted from church, or are attending for the first time, and serve them well.
MAKES A DIFFERENCE – We are not just looking for warm bodies to complete tasks. We are looking for empowered team members excited to volunteer, own their part of the local church, and participate in meaningful ministry.
SHOWS UP ON TIME – Honor your schedule and commitments. If you sign up, show up. If your volunteer huddle starts at 8:30am, you are late if you arrive when the service begins at 9:00am.
COMES PREPARED – Everyone who walks through our doors is going somewhere for eternity. Let’s be ready for them when they are here.
Makes the Team Better
IS PRESENT – When you are working with kids, serving in the band, making coffee, or hosting a group, be present. Be in the moment. Be focused. Be prepared.
EXHIBITS JOY – Volunteering is something we GET to do! Attitudes should reflect service to Christ and the mission of the church. You are not doing the team leader, Grace Fellowship, or God a favor by serving. You are playing your part in God’s divine plan of ushering His kingdom to earth by using your unique gifts and talents.
GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT IS ASKED – Whatever you do, do it with passion and polish. We all must be good stewards of the resources, time, people, environments, and opportunities God has given us as a church. People who take ownership of their volunteering go above and beyond what is asked.
GIVES FEEDBACK – We want people to own their volunteer role and share ideas, suggestions, feedback, and thoughts. A 5-star volunteer gives the RIGHT feedback to the RIGHT people. However, it is important to remember that you are part of a team. Complaining and gossiping are not feedback! Complaining never solved a problem, achieved a goal, or improved a relationship.
Team Player
COMMUNICATES WELL – We know that life can be busy, and our time is valuable, so communication is vital! Our teams win when we all respond to emails, text messages, serving requests, etc., in a timely manner.
IS FLEXIBLE – Change is inevitable, and at Grace, everything is an experiment (except God’s Word and the Gospel). Whatever happens, we should ask, how can I best help the team?
REPRODUCES SELF – Healthy ministries grow through multiplication. Every member of the team is actively recruiting others to build the team! We are owners and builders, not just renters and consumers!
ACKNOWLEDGES WE OVER ME – We believe in WE (our teams) over ME and ultimately HE over WE (our teams and our church). We should be decreasing ourselves to elevate God and others. We should work to be the team member we want other team members to be.
Follows the Coach
USES THE SYSTEMS – Grace is a big church with multiple campuses. Systems are an essential part of ministry and help make a big church feel more personal. These systems (scheduling, check-in, safety procedures, etc.) help us ensure people are cared for and that the ministry is efficient and effective.
IS A GOOD FOLLOWER – Our goal is that you will be loved and led well at Grace, so follow your team leader. If there are disagreements, handle them face-to-face with your leader. And when decisions are made, get behind the leader and champion those decisions as if they were your own. Trust that they have the best in mind.
RUNS THE PLAY – Grace has a specific ministry strategy and philosophy. It is not the only way to do church, but it is our way. Sometimes there are great ideas that don’t fit our philosophy – that is okay! That is why we don’t get overly attached to our opinion. Champion whatever play is called.
CAN PIVOT TO A NEW POSITION OR TEAM – Serving in any particular role is a privilege, not a right. As in life, there are seasons of ministry, too. Pivoting may need to happen for your benefit; perhaps you are getting burned out, or you have grown beyond this role. Maybe the ministry has changed, and you are no longer the right fit; you may now be better on a different team. Perhaps you have been promoted to a role with greater responsibility. That is not only okay, but it is more rewarding for you and those you serve.
Prioritizes Health
IS COACHABLE – A coachable volunteer does not shrink away from feedback, especially if it’s necessary for them to grow. Receive it from your team leader with grace and humility. Change can be a good thing, even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Be willing to do the work to grow in your volunteer role and your journey of following Jesus.
CONTINUES GROWING SPIRITUALLY – We strongly encourage you to plug into one of our groups and practice personal spiritual disciplines. To transform others, you need to be growing spiritually. This is why we don’t want any volunteers to serve and not attend service. Attend your group and attend service even when you aren’t scheduled to volunteer. You are on the GRACE team, not just your volunteer team.
PURSUES RECONCILIATION – Since relationship conflicts are inevitable, Jesus’ followers must learn to handle them respectfully and positively. A readiness to forgive, seeking compromise, and a strong belief in resolution are all marks of emotional maturity and spiritual health. Good teammates talk TO each other, not ABOUT each other.
HAS APPROPRIATE EXPECTATIONS – We should be decreasing our own self to elevate God and others. We are going to disappoint one another. Every volunteer, including you, is a person who sins and makes mistakes. Your leaders, church, and teammates will fail you. Fill the gap with trust, not suspicion.