Wilson L. Deaton
4th December 2006, 09:33 PM (21:33)
Hybels, Bill - The Volunteer Revolution (2004)
Subtitle: Unleashing the Power of Everybody
This book covered several different facets of volunteering.
For example, it had material that would greatly encourage/motivate an individual to volunteer, and it also had material that a volunteer coordinator could use as a process to recruit volunteers.
A particular issue he covered that I really enjoyed reading was his approach to Spiritual Gifts Tests as they relate to volunteer ministry.
Hybels: "If I had to sum up the key to finding the perfect serving niche, I'd do it on one word: experiment. That's not what I would have said twenty years ago, or even ten. Back then I would have said to start by figuring out your spiritual gift.... Learn and reflect I would have said... "
Basically, he explains that assessments were a good idea on paper but made the process too complicated and evolved into an, "I can't serve until I find the perfect spot." He says that they have found assessments to be more valuable after a person has some serving experiences to inform the assessment.
This means volunteer coordinators must also shift thinking. For example, allow for volunteers to experiement (don't ask for one-year committments up-front). Also, debriefing after serving experiences is extremely important. The book even gives suggested debriefing questions and the logic behind the questions.
The book also covers the topic of where the passion comes from. For example, some people will want to volunteer in a field related to their profession while others will only want to do something completely different. Others will have a passion for mininstry to certain demographic groups (relocating immigrants, recently divorced, singles, etc.)
Sprinkled throughout the book are examples of creative volunteer ministries and experiences.
The book also gives some ideas for volunteer upkeep, i.e., preventing burnout.
I would recommend this book for anyone thinking about volunteering or anyone who needs to recruit and work with volunteers.
Wilson
Subtitle: Unleashing the Power of Everybody
This book covered several different facets of volunteering.
For example, it had material that would greatly encourage/motivate an individual to volunteer, and it also had material that a volunteer coordinator could use as a process to recruit volunteers.
A particular issue he covered that I really enjoyed reading was his approach to Spiritual Gifts Tests as they relate to volunteer ministry.
Hybels: "If I had to sum up the key to finding the perfect serving niche, I'd do it on one word: experiment. That's not what I would have said twenty years ago, or even ten. Back then I would have said to start by figuring out your spiritual gift.... Learn and reflect I would have said... "
Basically, he explains that assessments were a good idea on paper but made the process too complicated and evolved into an, "I can't serve until I find the perfect spot." He says that they have found assessments to be more valuable after a person has some serving experiences to inform the assessment.
This means volunteer coordinators must also shift thinking. For example, allow for volunteers to experiement (don't ask for one-year committments up-front). Also, debriefing after serving experiences is extremely important. The book even gives suggested debriefing questions and the logic behind the questions.
The book also covers the topic of where the passion comes from. For example, some people will want to volunteer in a field related to their profession while others will only want to do something completely different. Others will have a passion for mininstry to certain demographic groups (relocating immigrants, recently divorced, singles, etc.)
Sprinkled throughout the book are examples of creative volunteer ministries and experiences.
The book also gives some ideas for volunteer upkeep, i.e., preventing burnout.
I would recommend this book for anyone thinking about volunteering or anyone who needs to recruit and work with volunteers.
Wilson