Volunteering at your organization

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Volunteering at your organization

• your name
• position title
• date

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Checklist

• Get to know your supervisor / go-to person,
  insert persons name.
• If possible establish a regular schedule for
  volunteering.
• If you will be late or cant make it, insert
  what person should do.
• Make sure to trade contact information.
• Know applicable rules especially those
  involving how to interact with other staff and
  those youre serving.

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Step 1Cross-cultural ministry
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A Biblical perspective

• If youre entering a cross-cultural setting,
  approach it as you would approach entering
  another country
• The following verses might be helpful in thinking
  about this.

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I Corinthians 919-23

• Though I am free and belong to no man, I make
  myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as
  possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win
  the Jews. To those under the law I became like
  one under the law (though I myself am not under
  the law), so as to win those under the law. To
  those not having the law I became like one not
  having the law (though I am not free from God's
  law but am under Christ's law), so as to win
  those not having the law. To the weak I became
  weak, to win the weak. I have become all things
  to all men so that by all possible means I might
  save some. I do all this for the sake of the
  gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

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Romans 1413-21

•  Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one
  another. Instead, make up your mind not to put
  any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's
  way. As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully
  convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But
  if anyone regards something as unclean, then for
  him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed
  because of what you eat, you are no longer acting
  in love. Do not by your eating destroy your
  brother for whom Christ died. Do not allow what
  you consider good to be spoken of as evil. For
  the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and
  drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in
  the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ
  in this way is pleasing to God and approved by
  men.

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Romans 1413-21(cont.)

• Let us therefore make every effort to do what
  leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not
  destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All
  food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat
  anything that causes someone else to stumble. It
  is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
  anything else that will cause your brother to
  fall.

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Adjust to meet the culture

• For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
  and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy
  in the Holy Spirit
• Expect that a different culture will follow a
  different set of rules than you do. Expect that
  and try to adjust to accommodate their culture.
• Actively seek to learn from others.

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Common cross-cultural issues

• Need for order vs. Spontaneity
• Efficiency vs. Relational
• Egalitarianism vs. Respect for authority
• Reserved/indirect vs. Intense directness
• Introverted vs. Extroverted
• Resources vs. Underresourced
• Trauma is avoided vs. Trauma is common

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Find cross-cultural mentors

• Advantages of mentors from your cultural
  background
• This person can be a bridge to the culture for
  you.
• Get advice on relating to the culture from a
  familiar perspective.
• Bring them frustrations or questions that you
  have.
• Advantages of mentors from the culture youre
  serving
• Get advice on relating to the culture from an
  insiders perspective.
• Bring them questions that you have.
• Both of these are necessary.

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Step 2Care about relationships
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Care about relationships!

• If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender
  my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain
  nothing. 1 Corinthians 133 (NIV)
• Remember that no matter what the task, you are
  working with and for people.
• Put others as your highest task.

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Step 3Consider your approach
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Approach
FAT

• Whatever you do, stay
• faithful
• available
• teachable

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Faithful

• Keep your commitments.
• Dont think of yourself as just a volunteer.
  People are depending on you!
• If you need to miss a session or will be late,
  call.

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Available

• To do whats needed
• Expect to sacrifice

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Teachable

• Ask what people (staff, clients, the community)
  need instead of assuming that you know
• Ask how you can be helpful instead of assuming
  you know
• Be flexible

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Step 4Benefits of Volunteering
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Benefits of volunteering

• Make a positive difference in your community
• Learn new skills
• Improve your health
• Create more fun in your life
• Meet people with similar interests
• Share your skills and life experiences
• Meet people you wouldnt have otherwise
• In one survey 28 of unemployed volunteers (and
  16 of employed volunteers) said that their
  volunteering had helped them obtain a job in the
  past (www.givingandvolunteering.ca/pdf/factsheets/
  Benefits_of_Volunteering.pdf )

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Step 5Recommended Resources
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Resources

• list suggested books
• list suggested movies
• list suggested websites
• list suggested articles
• list other trainings

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Appendix recommended books

• Being Latino in Christ Orlando Crespo
• Being White Paula Harris and Doug Schaupp
• Divided by Faith Michael O. Emerson and Christian
  Smith
• Free at Last Carl Ellis
• Invitation to Lead Paul Tokunaga
• More Than Equals Spencer Perkins and Chris Rice
• Peoples History of the United States Howard Zinn
• Restoring At-Risk Communities John Perkins
• Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in
  the Cafeteria? Beverly Daniel Tatum

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Appendix other materials

• www.techmission.org/training/webcasts.php,
  especially Technology in Youth Programs
• www.techmission.org/training/videos.php
• www.christianvolunteering.org/voleng2/Volunteer_Or
  ientation/start.html

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Summary

• Pray over why youre volunteering
• Start with clear communication
• Stay FAT
• Consider cross-cultural aspects of ministry
• Put relationships first