Category: Q&A

Q&A: Moving from Consumer to Participant?

Q: A ministry like Guest Services seems to enable a consumer culture within our church. How can we move people from consumer to participant? [From a recent One-Day Workshop] A: Let’s be clear: there’s nothing...

Q&A: What Would You Change?

Q: Go back to your early days in your role. If you could easily “reset” from ground zero, would everything still look the same when you built it back, or what would change in regards...

Q&A: What’s the “Creepy Threshold” in Guest Services?

Q: We’re having a debate on our Guest Services Team as to whether or not it is “creepy” to approach someone already seated in the auditorium with an extra “Hello, welcome!” So my question is:...

Q&A: How Can We Eliminate “Visitors”?

Q: Do you have any tips on helping our lead pastors eliminate the use of the word “visitors”? [Submitted in a recent session of Confab] A: (Yes, I know. That’s an intentionally misleading title. No...

Q&A: How Do I Transition a Volunteer Off of My Team?

Q: We expect that our volunteers will actually show up. So how do I transition someone off of my team after they consistently stop showing up? [from a recent One-Day Workshop] A: If there is...

Q&A: When Helping Guests Acclimate, How Much is Too Much?

Q: How much is too much when it comes to introducing guests to people, showing them around, and giving them information? (question submitted during a recent One-Day Workshop) A: The “How much is too much”...

Q&A: How Does Serving Mesh with Discipleship?

Q: Where should “serving” fit into a church’s overall discipleship strategy? Is it reasonable to set up serving as a goal for all members and then accept abysmal failure without acknowledging that a main tenant...

Q&A: How Do I Balance “Paid” vs. “Authentic” Ministry?

Q: I’m struggling with the balance of “paid work” vs. authentic, organic ministry and service. How do I avoid the feelings of burnout and going through the motions when it comes to church life? [Anonymous...

Q&A: How Should I Think About Curriculum for Volunteer Onboarding?

Q: I am currently working on a book to use for our volunteer onboarding process. There is so much info that I want to relay effectively, but I am having trouble deciding what information to...

Q&A: How Can I Prevent a Mass Exodus…Before the Service Ends?

Q: Every week at the end of our worship service, there is a mass exodus out the back door during the closing song. How can I change that? [from the 2024 blog survey] A: This...