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 Preventing Volunteer Burnout3 biblical models for effective, lasting ministry.
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During an intense capital stewardship campaign, two of our workers argued over decorations for the celebration supper. Claude had acquired three hundred pine seedlings, thinking they could be potted in cups and placed at each dinner setting. "People can plant their pines as symbols of our growth," he said. "They'll always be reminded, seeing their trees, of this period in our church's life." It was a good idea, but it didn't suit the decorations planned by Anne, who visualized fine china and tasteful elegance-not pine trees and potting soil. They had a terrible row, and I hurried over to Claude's house, where his wife met me at the car, wringing her hands. "Have you come to help us with our problem?" she asked. I nodded grimly and went inside. When Claude told me his side of the story, I sensed he'd lost his temper and spoken harshly to Anne. "Claude," I said, "you've got to visit her and apologize." "I did!" he said. "I did apologize. It didn't do any good." "What did you say?" I asked. "I told her I was sorry." "You did?" "Yes," he said, voice rising. "I told her I was sorry she was acting so immaturely." It took all my powers of diplomacy to patch things up (we finally stuck the trees in elegant little flowerpots and handed them out as people left the ballroom), but both families eventually left the church. Interpersonal conflict is a primary cause of burnout, so we take on the role of the loyal yokefellow in : "I urge Euodia and Syntyche to iron out their differences and make up. Syzygus, since you're right there to help them work things out, do your best with them" (The Message). So we strive to mediate or prevent conflict. We're arranging lunch with a member of our missions team who has been unusually silent during the last few meetings-or absent altogether. I think she's upset, and I'd like to talk with her. Syzygus would have. Paul: give recognitionEver heard of Urbanus, Apelles, Tryphena and Tryphosa? They weren't the most famous New Testament servants, but they must have beamed when the apostle Paul mentioned their hard work in Romans 16. Paul's example prompted us to create opportunities like these:
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