Why are there no ruts in the road to success? Because continually doing the same thing with the same people won’t get you to success! To be successful over the long haul, a ministry must be “energized.”

But how can you build a volunteer ministry that’s energized—that’s going to thrive long term?

1. An energized ministry is one that isn’t dependent on you to survive.

You may be the visionary who launches the ministry, or the one who helps it move to the next level, but in time it won’t need you to survive. It’s a bit like raising a child—in time you want that child to be self-sufficient. Energized, thriving programs are the same way. You’re a steward of the program, not the owner; it belongs to God.

2. An energized ministry is one that finds its own pace and place.

By that we mean your volunteer ministry will probably change as time goes on. That’s good, because it’s adapting to meet the needs of the church as it changes.

Twenty years ago, few churches had the need for someone to run the sound board or media desk; today most churches have volunteers in those roles. In 1975 if you’d asked someone to handle the information technology needs of your church, you’d have been met with a blank stare. Now any 14-year-old nods sagely and asks what sort of computer equipment is in the church office.

For a ministry to thrive, it must have built into it the ability to adapt and change to meet not just the current needs of your church, but the church’s future needs.

And to thrive, your volunteer ministry needs to have a place at the table when church leaders are determining budgets and priorities. Thriving ministries aren’t afterthoughts or stepchildren; they’re regarded as highly as other church programs.

3. An energized ministry is powerful.

Not powerful in the “I can rule the world” sense of the word, but in the kingdom sense of the word. Energized, thriving programs serve others. They praise God. They cooperate with God’s purposes.

Energized ministries are also powerful because they’re fueled by something. They roll on and on, adapting and changing as needed because somehow their tanks are being filled by enthusiasm, funding, and purpose. A thriving volunteer ministry must be powered in four ways:

• It must be powered by people—both church leaders and the congregation as a whole.

• It must be powered by vision.

• It must be powered by mission.

• It must be powered by prayer.

Building a volunteer ministry is a great thing. Volunteers grow in their Christian faith, and through those volunteers other lives are touched. The mission of your church is supported. Your personal efforts in creating or improving your volunteer ministry will return fruit a hundredfold. But when you build an energized volunteer ministry that thrives—one that keeps giving and growing long after your involvement with it ends—that’s an effort that returns fruit a thousandfold.

If you’re going to create, rejuvenate, or tweak your volunteer ministry, why not do it right? Why not create an energized, thriving ministry that’s built to last?

Adapted from How to Energize Your Volunteer Ministry, Group Publishing, 2004. The book is available at a discount to Church Volunteer Central members here.