"Thanks but no Thanks"....Five Volunteers You don't Want on your Team - by Marv Penner

My last post entitled "Turtle on a Fencepost" talked about how countless of people have been part of my development over my lifetime...a turtle on a fencepost did not get there alone.

Marv Penner was one of those guys for me - He taught me youth ministry years ago in college. Here are two posts where he gives us wisdom on choosing volunteers.  It's entitled, "Thanks but no Thanks"....Five Volunteers You don't Want on your team. Sit back and learn.

http://www.dougfields.com/posts/marv/

http://www.dougfields.com/posts/marv2/

A Turtle on a Fencepost

Someone once said, that when I look back on my life I think of a turtle on a fencepost. Why? Because I know the turtle did not get there alone... The same could be said for my life. There are countless of people who have selflessly poured into me enabling me to get where I am today. Other leaders have taken the time to develop me. They have taken this leader who could barely crawl and wanted to spend most of his time hiding in his shell and have put him in place he has never thought possible.

How you ask? – Relationship. In fact, leadership at its core is not towering authority or an egotistical position. It is a place to serve, a place to build others up, and help others reach their full potential in Christ. Leadership is relationship.

Perhaps no one shows us this better than the Apostle Paul. You catch a glimpse of his heart for developing leaders in his letters to Timothy. How many times in these letters does he say “Timothy my son…” And, it is always followed by seasoned advice from a leader who has “been there, done that” and he literally has the scares to prove it! You get the sense when reading first and second Timothy that this is a leader nearing the end of his life wanting to pass on his learning’s to the next generation.

When talking to a long time mentor of mine he reflected on role that God is now giving him. He said, “I want to place my shoulder in the center of the backs of this next generation of leaders and push…and I don’t care if I’m invisible to the rest of the world.” Hmm… “Timothy my son…”

As I look back on my life, I notice all those that played their part in helping me, this turtle.

I see this in parents that took me to church every Sunday and modeled for me what a relationship with God is supposed to look like.

I see this in a grade seven Sunday School teacher who brought a pigs head to class when doing a lesson on the beheading of John the Baptist. (I know, gross for you but engaging for a grade seven boy!)

I see this in a youth leader who gave up his Saturday nights and sometimes weekends to go on retreats and plan crazy events just because he cared.

I see this in a Senior Pastor who took a chance on a new guy.  He was patient enough to develop and train a terrified “young Timothy” But most of all, he listened.

I see this in a church that showed me grace upon grace.

I see this in a professor who although is battling health issues and could retire, continues to train leaders for kingdom work.

And many more…

This summer, I sat on the deck enjoying the sun with a former youth leader of mine. He turned to me and said, “How did you get into full-time ministry?” I said, “Because, many years ago I had some excellent youth leaders that cared…they definitely played a part.” Still not getting it, he made mention of a “super-cool-hip” youth leader that I must have been referring to. “No” I said. “It’s you.”

The other day I sat at my desk claiming “Vanity of vanities…what am I doing here?” Just then a former student of mine contacts on me on facebook to say thanks. Thanks for taking the time to influence and develop her in her walk with Christ. Now she is using her influence in a youth ministry pouring into others. Misty eyed, I pondered if my parents, grade seven Sunday school teacher, youth leader, Senior Pastor, church and professor could really grasp this “trickle down” effect.  Did they know that the ripples from their pebble in the pond reached farther than they ever could imagine?

Don’t underestimate your opportunity to develop others. It would be a shame to live your life and not lift any turtles to the top.

In fact, I’m a turtle on a fencepost, and I didn’t get here alone.

Listen

It’s happened to all of us. We are at a social gathering and someone is totally dominating the conversation. It doesn’t matter what the topic, they have a story that trumps all others. And your attempt to enter the conversation is cut short with another “better than yours” story. It almost seems that if you want to get a word in, you have to interrupt this “Me Monster” in between syllables. And when you do talk, they are anxiously waiting for your lips to slow down ever so slightly so that they can start in on another run-on sentence “Me” parade.” Eventually, you just give up and walk away.

The word “listen” is often overlooked in our world today. It is a word that I am sure you have heard from your parents and teachers alike. It is a call to stop what you are doing and focus your attention on some necessary information. The other day I stood between the TV and my daughter and said, “Listen, you need to look both ways before you cross the street, yesterday I noticed that you didn’t.” “But daddy…” was the defensive response. I heard my own parents coming through in my voice as I attempted to impart some life wisdom to my five year old child. Listening is perhaps one of the most undervalued abilities today. We call people to listen all the time, the problem is - we just aren’t good at it ourselves.

I have heard the book of Proverbs humorously described as “A long road trip with your mother.” Although I wouldn’t dare associate myself with that description, there is some truth to it. The book of proverbs is a call to listen to wisdom. 11 times in fact in the first few chapters it calls us to listen or pay attention to wisdom and understanding - Listen to your fathers and mothers instruction, listen for the voice of wisdom that calls aloud in the streets. Who hasn’t heard their mother say “Listen” followed by some seasoned advice or instruction? A call to be wise is a call to listen.

In a conversation the other day, I found myself losing the argument. Despite the mounting evidence piled against me, I still held on to my view. Rather than listening to the voice of wisdom, I reacted with childlike stubbornness. “I took my ball and went home.” Wisdom was there, but I didn’t listen.

The other day on my church visitation tour I noticed gentlemen come in late to the service. He took a seat in the chair in front of me while the rest of us stood to worship in song. With hands that looked stained and battered from the week of work he closed his eyes and turned these hands palms upward to heaven. It was obvious that after a long and tiring week, he was there to listen.

When we really break it done, the ability to listen is a posture of our heart. In fact, that is why we go to school. We are placing ourselves in a position of learning, not assuming that we know the answers but trusting that someone else does and letting them guide us in the things we need to know. A teacher of mine pondered this the other day when talking about his students. He said, the most difficult students are those that hold tightly to what they think is right, and come to school seeking more evidence to support what they already believe. It made me ask myself, “Do I really think I know everything?”

Did you here that? Listen…