you have been released

Have you ever had to fire a volunteer? I personally consider it "releasing." It just sounds better. I have had the unfortunate task of releasing a volunteer twice in the past 2 years. One just happened yesterday.

Something I assume everyone knows is you only get one chance to make a first impression. First impressions are so important, especially in children's ministry!! As parents, we want to make sure our children are in a clean, safe environment with people who love them. The atmosphere is exciting, volunteers are actually thrilled your child is there! And when you drop your child off at his or her classroom, you are both warmly greeted and your child doesn't even have time to say; "Bye, have fun in big church." (Everything sounded great until that last quote, that just doesn't happen!) Anyway, what do you do when a volunteer has a great heart, is committed, but is so abrasive to parents they don't want to return? To me, it's perfectly clear, you release them.

1 Corinthians 10:32 says it all; "Do not call anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God."

If you have a volunteer who is causing parents to not return, or to stumble, you must release them. I am not saying they can't serve anywhere, they just can't serve in an upfront position. I know it sounds so easy and cut and dry, but truthfully it is a very hard thing to do. Remember, I fired a volunteer who was committed to the vision, who has a heart for Jesus and His children. There were tears shed and feelings were hurt, but when you consider the number of people who might not hear the saving message of Jesus Christ because a volunteer is in the wrong spot, it's worth it.

As children's leaders, we must make sure people are serving in the best location based on their giftedness. We also need to make sure they have the people skills to be in that position. People are wired differently, some have people skills and some do not. If you are not up for releasing volunteers, take the extra time necessary to make sure people skills are on your radar when you look for giftedness.