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Why does it seem that it is always the same women doing everything in the body of Christ? Then their are some women who never help out in areas that are in great need. It has been posted in the bulletin for months that we need help in Sunday school and no one has volunteer? What does one do to motivate others without being pushy or overbearing? Need your input.

Hannah, I do not know that you can do other than to keep praying and keep asking. It is equally true of the men ... the same ones do the necessary work all the time. I share your frustration.

Some years back I tried to get someone to mind children while young mum's did a bible study. I thought there would be older ladies happy to spend time with pretend grandchildren but it was not so. It took ages. Eventually we did get a lovely lady who minded the babies for us until she had to leave on a long planned trip. No-one else came forward, We did it ourselves, taking turns to miss the study - or sometimes managing with the children in amongst us.

Sunday School - a number of young men went to a conference and came back enthused and helped out with Sunday School. And they came up with the idea of people signing up for a term ... so they had smaller teams sharing the load for around 10 weeks at a time. It was not as daunting as becoming "the Sunday School teacher" or a long term helper. The fear of being stuck with the job forever was removed.

Lately, we have begun to work through a program instead of our usual church service format (Christianity Explored - around a quarter are not regular faces). MOST of the "regulars" are involved in helping in some way. The test will come as we move back to our more usual service - will the helping out continue.

I think people are truly busy. The demands of raising children are high - and the expectations to take them to many different activities out of school times is over the top. Women work outside the home, come back and do their primary carer of the household role, and then we ask them to help out at church too. I actually expect everyone at church to help out as they are able and doing what they feel comfortable with, but I can see that a major job and a commitment to it for quite a while is threatening.

I also think it is perhaps a matter of maturity. Babes in the Lord, after that initial enthusiastic doing everything ... sink back into the crowd and then need to learn that they also are "ministers' and "fellow servants" in the body. That can take time.

Meanwhile, we can but continue to pray, ask for help, encourage, lead by example - and try not to "burn out" ourselves.

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“Lord, in my zeal for love of truth, let me not forget the truth about love.” - Thomas Aquinas
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Hello Hannah,

Great questions!

I’m led that if one were to take a poll regarding the gender of those who work in most churches … one may find that an overwhelming majority would be women.

You’d asked:


Often I’ve found that people (male & female) tend not to volunteer to work in areas where they may feel inept. Perhaps they may look at what you & other women do in the church, as too time consuming, too technical, or maybe they look at the success that they see & feel that things are going along just fine & that though you may ask, maybe you really don’t “need” them. Again, if you were to take a poll of parishioners who receive & actually READ their church bulletins … you’d be amazed! Amazed at how few do! Soooo, many churches try to remedy this by either doing away with their Sunday morning bulletins altogether or they modify their church bulletins with verbal announcements.

I’ve found that people (male & female) “will” volunteer to work when their “hearts” have been moved to do so. And when we Christians seek to address a need & this need has to do with heart concerns … we must go to Jesus The Christ first. Only God can satisfactorily address our hearts desires. But know that when you go Him, He will show you – YOU first! Meaning, God will place before you, the areas in which YOU must grow & while you are tending to THOSE issues … He will handle everything else.

Plainly my sister, you may feel that there is a need in your church & you may also feel that it is unfair that the burden of that need rests squarely on the shoulders of a “faithful few”. And you may also feel that this is unfair & of course you would be right! Yet, where has this gotten you?

When people are unwilling to help you to do the things that you feel are right, just & good. Maybe then, it is time to go to God & ask Him to open your heart / your eyes … so that you can see where the issue “truthfully” is. And God will show you. And please try not to be surprised if the answer that you receive from Heaven doesn’t fault the unwilling congregants … there simply may be some pruning that the Father desires to be done in that particular ministry in order for it to flourish.


From my heart to yours,

Gracious

In the U.k. the Church has become a social club, people want to come and sit then clear off home.

sad isn't it?

A life-changing moment in my life came during a seminar on "Encouragement" by Larry Crabb .... this sentence has shaped my thinking ever since :

"never take responsibility for a goal you cannot control"

This is so desperately hard to do, especially when you can see people going to hell and you want to stop them.

I have been feeling very discouraged lately, much as you sound to be .... then our church sent another lay preacher and myself to a Preaching Conference held by a Bible College in Sydney. .... It was full of young people! Passionately committed young men and women. And I remembered what God said to Elijah when he was so very discouraged .... in 1Kings 19:18

1Kings 19:18 18 I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.” Context (NET)

Pray, intercede for these people, and seek to deepen your own walk with God ... it is the only way. Gather spiritual friends around you who will stand with you in prayer, and also so you can encourage each other. If you have no one near you, then use the internet - for instance this forum, or others.

And begin a bible study group - but pray first, ask God to send you the people who have a heart that wants to know Him.

and keep the faith ... it is God's church, it is ultimately His responsibility.

your sister in Christ

Dinah

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Gracious made the comment about needing pruning. That is so true. We actually declined in growth because so much was being hoisted on a select few and the others were sitting around admiring themselves. Then they started leaving because we just were not following Jesus' example and working as a team. Funny, didn't see you show up when we needed help or volunteer when needs were expressed. As soon as they left, we began to grow. The new ones are the hardest workers I've ever met. Now we are growing numerically and spiritually.