I’ve been involved in ministry with no end in sight and have felt burned out – and I know MANY others who pulled out possibly for good because issues like these were never addressed.

I stepped down from Sunday School after teaching for 6 years, because God allowed me opportunities to sing/speak. It was very difficult to do so, because I loved it and we are very short-staffed. However, I chose to say No, so I could say Yes to another gifting.

As for music, we have a traditional service, with a song leader singing the hymns from the back – no stage stuff. And, once a month, we have a contemporary service with a small praise band.

When people see I’m not up there, they often wonder why. I love what you said here: “Our talent is not an automatic “yes” from God.” It’s my pride that thinks I should be up there all the time … so when I’m asked, I agree only if I can commit to rehearsal & to serving that weekend without feeling pressured to perform. But there are times I have to say No. Some people don’t understand and while it sounds ridiculous from a tweeting/FBing/blogging artist with CDs to sell – that I’m trying to not make it about me, I really am trying.

My husband & I also serve as coordinators for a team and we are responsible for set up, serving as ushers, greeters, etc. a few times a month. It’s not a huge time commitment. But, it’s a still a struggle to get enough people from our group to commit to helping serve. I think if some of these issues were addressed, it would definitely help going forward. Thanks for sharing.

This is very encouraging to read. I think many Christian individuals and churches need to learn what you are doing.

I served in a church with 1200 members in 3 year- old Sunday school and worship hour for two years. Every single Sunday, with the exception of one when I was out of town.

When my second son was born at the end of that two year stint with a birthdefect, we were home bound with him for about three months. I was so lonely it was rediculous. The church knew. I asked for visitors, phone calls…anything. NO one came. Where were all the mamas of those three-year-olds I had been teaching?

When we returned to church, I was exhusted, needing to be fed, needing to socialize, needing love. What happened? I was put on the list for church nursry the first Sunday back. I wasn’t even asked.

I didn’t go back.

I’m now part of a different church. This church has asked nothing of me. They have loved me, encouraged me, asked what I need, begged me to let them know what they can do for me.

Now I’m in preparation for starting a new church ministry for single parents. I feel totally free and ready for this. I’m truely excited and passionate about it, because I feel loved and respected. I know my needs will be met, too.

Please, let us know how this turns out and which commitments worked out the best and if you decide to add any others over time.

And, like you, we also have a difficult time staffing children’s ministry. Our pastor asks (in a very non-official, here’s-an-idea- kind of way) that if you have a child in children’s ministry that you would serve there at least one portion of the year. Not to discourage people without children in the ministry, but I think it’s a decent idea. We have so many people that volunteered this summer that we are rotating one week on, one off, which will probably stave off some burn-out too.

(We are a military family, so we have to switch churches every few years.) Several times when we have left churches, I have heard a lot of, “Oh, what is this ministry going to do without you? Who is going to lead? Who is going to fill your shoes?” And I always laugh. It is not about me or about what I have done. That ministry is about what God is doing in that particular part of the body of Christ. I always start a ministry with an exit point in mind (usually because I am aware that the US Air Force has other plans for our family), and I always try to share that openly. I also am fully aware that I am limited and flawed, and though I might train up others to follow in my absence, it is God who truly trains up their hearts. And time after time, I am humbled to see someone step into the place that I have left . . . and do a much better job than I could have done. I love that you have given the musicians an “out” – both in the way of pointing them to ministry elsewhere and in the sense of giving them a time limit. I think that will be powerful for the congregation and for those individuals!

“How could your church better serve those who serve her?” What a good question! Once I was the leader of a ministry in a church. The pastors in that church prayed for me at least weekly, and they reminded me that they were praying for me and for the women who ministered alongside me and the people that we ministered to. Those reminders were powerful, and the prayers were so very often answered. I am still grateful for those prayers!