So many people are behind-the-scenes type of people. You know them. I know them. Shoot, I live with one of them. Oops, I mean I am married to one of them. 🙂 For almost 40 years Jo has been a behind-the-scene woman. She would just as soon eat nails as to stand up in front of people and speak publicly. She did so about 3 or 4 years ago when I asked different woman to talk on Mother’s Day, but I paid for it. BIG. TIME!!!
Wish I could say I am just kidding on that, but I’m not. Get your mind out of the gutter!! I lost track of how many meals out I had to buy to pay off that debt. 😛
Let’s face it. Volunteers are what makes every business go ’round. Any CEO or President who strives to make his business successful knows he cannot do it all by himself. Hospitals. Nursing homes. Political campaigns. And yes, churches all rely on volunteers, those unsung heroes who will “take one for the team” in order to move ahead.
If you read my last post, you already know this past Sunday night was a first for OVCF. We celebrated our volunteers with a dinner in their honor. We asked nothing of them except to show up. Let me rephrase that: other than the RSVP we asked of them, they were just expected to come and allow us to lavish our thanks upon them. We had 79 people show up. The servers, myself included, were to dress as a Superhero of some type. We had Flash, Batman, Superman, Catwoman, Snake Eyes (GI Joe), Thor, a Ninja Turtle (?), and multiple versions of Captain America there. Don’t go looking for any picture of me in a Captain America costume. I sort of outgrew them years ago. Okay, so it was just last year. 🙂 However, I did wear a Captain America t-shirt, complete with an old logo of him. Jo and I made a great team since she wore one that had the shield on it. We decorated with Red, White and Blue tablecloths; child costumes hanging from different parts of the auditorium; table decorations, and several drawings for door prizes. I showed a clip of Tim Hawkins that had people laughing their heads off. And there most definitely were tons of thanks handed out. I spent the evening, not eating, but going from person to person thanking them for their gift of self this past year. I wanted every person there to know how much their contribution meant. We had a wild and crazy year! We were plum out of space and options when the building team came up with a really “whacky” idea (according to some) that took all summer to do. One thing I can say is this: DO NOT be afraid to take risks. DO NOT be afraid to do some off-the-wall stuff from time to time. DO NOT be afraid to do something reckless when it seems like you have no place else to go. Hindered by a $123k new septic system price tag, we dreamed out of the box. You can see the story here. We worshiped elsewhere all summer. And the renovation was done with cash. THEY DESERVED A THANK YOU. not just for the renovation project, but for all year long. Teachers. Cleaners. Yard mowers. Weed-pullers. Painters. Singers. Finance Team. You name it.
I was honored to be a part of it all last night. Thanks for letting me tell my story. If you are a pastor, or involved in your church in some way, I highly recommend it. The good-feelings will be felt for a long time. How do you show appreciation? Does your church do anything special? Share them please. I’m always looking for good ideas.
In my last church, I have the sneaking suspicion that far too many folks volunteered solely for the “swag” they got as handouts. T-shirts, travel mugs, car magnets, key chains. As for me, I gave of my time and energy not to get a armful of trinkets. I had a bigger goal in mind. Truth be told, I got all the thanks I needed during my quiet times of prayer.
Well, I can honestly say we don’t give out swag. 🙂 We don’t have the money to do that and just don’t happen to be one of those kinds. Your goal is much more laudable.
We have several different celebrations each year it seems. We celebrated Valnetine’s last week. The elders served all of us.
That was a cool thing for them to do.
What a wonderful way to thank the team that it takes to “have church”. Everyone one likes to be appreciated and feel their ministry is valid and important in the big picture. A church that knows how to operate as a team will usually understand why it takes so many people to reach one remote tribe. Thanks for allowing us to be a little part of the celebration by praying.
You have the right idea Betty. It takes a team to have church and I don’t want anyone to think it is a one-man show. Thanks for praying.
Our church does that annually. Pastors dress up in costume etc. I appreciate that they appreciate, but I generally don’t show up just because large groups of people tend to tire me out quickly.
Sounds like it was fun. 😀
I like the idea of dressing up but at 6’5″ there aren’t too many costumes that fit. And you definitely don’t want to see these legs in tights. 😛
Good job, preacher! That’s the way church otta’ be. People having fun and being grateful. Thanks is a gift and heart from God. Very inspiring, Bill.
Thanks Floyd. I hope they walked away feeling that way.
You’re a good man Bill Grandi.
Thanks jason. I am humbled you would think that.
I love that you have so many volunteers and that you are so thankful for them. 🙂 I remember one year, our pastor washed the volunteers feet. Not sure that would work for everyone, but it was touching anyway! God bless you!
It was a real treat to see so many, and to know some didn’t come. As for the foot washing…? 🙂
My church calls volunteers “the Dream Team.” They do a few things. Have regular parties for the different teams (once a year or so), give gifts (T-shirts, coffee mugs, etc.), and there’s also a special VIP room in our church where volunteers can go to get doughnuts, coffee, etc. on a Sunday morning.
Love the name. Gotta love the perks on Sunday morning. 😉
Absolutely love it. My mom was an activity director in a nursing home for years and just thrilled the people by dressing up in crazy outfits frequently. I think that’s why my Wonder Woman talk has worked for me–I put the costume on while I’m speaking and people start digging for their cameras. So glad you did that!
I suspect that would grab some attention. 🙂 I love it though and think it would make a great “entrance” into the listener’s world.