Last week our ministry received an inquiry that to be honest warmed my heart.  At first glance I wondered if the person was being critical, but the more I thought about his comments the more I was excited that someone took the time and gave thought to what is being presented through our website.  The following is the message we received:

“Subject=Consistent Language”

S1=”We equip churches with the right tools to help recruit volunteers and place them in a ministry that best utilizes their gifts and talents.” – this is a quote from your getting started page. From video blog you make the point its about “servants” not “volunteers.” To be consistent may I humbly suggest you change your wording here? You appear to have a great process as I am checking things out. I have a personal passion as a mission coach about helping people discover their purpose.”

I first want to thank this minister who took the time to carefully read and reflect upon our website.  Secondly, I want to explain the apparent inconsistent use of “volunteers” vs. “servants” on our site.  We recognize that most churches use the word “volunteers” in recruiting members to serve in various positions within the church.  I wish this were not so, but it is what it is.  My desire is to change the word from “volunteer” to “servant”, but in order to communicate to those who are seeking to use our tools, resources and process I must start with what is familiar to those wanting to learn about PLACE Ministries.

I stated in the video blog http://www.placeministries.org/videoblog/ the words volunteer, volunteers, volunteered are only used 4 times in the entire Bible while the words, serve, servant, servants are used 1010 throughout the Bible.  I passionately desire that churches would move away from using the word “volunteer” and talk about those who serve as servants like we see in the New Testament.  Jesus stated in Matthew 20:28 that “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”.  Paul encourages us to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ (I Corinthians 11:1).

I would like nothing more than one day to not have the word “volunteer” listed on our website as something someone does within the Body of Christ.  But until the culture and language is changed at times I am stuck with using words like “volunteer”, “volunteers”, “volunteering” or “volunteered”.  Consider being a part along with our ministry in changing the language from “volunteer” to “servant” in your culture.