How to Create a Serving Culture in Your Church

Every church has a unique feel. That feeling is built by people and is shaped by the beliefs, values, and customs that are observed there. All churches, organizations, and families operate within a culture. In each church, department or ministry, leaders will inherit the existing culture. Culture is a powerful force, which can either positively or negatively impact the health of a church or ministry area. Creating a serving culture is the first step in increasing participation from your volunteers. We want to walk you through how to do this.

As a leader, you may believe that your church has an established culture of service, but is that culture universally felt by those who are being served? Just because you see people volunteering, it doesn’t necessarily mean an inherent culture of service truly exists. That is because a service culture does not look hierarchical, with staff personnel at the top directing the people serving at the bottom. Developing a culture of volunteering is about giving and serving. It is about everyone freely serving one another – me serving you, you serving me, us serving each other.

When you let others see you serving, you are encouraging them to join you. And when you don’t put restrictions on your willingness to serve, you are setting an example to follow. When you spend time connecting with people in every area of ministry, you are building the culture of service. Hebrews 6:10 says this: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Even so, pastors should not be inclined to do most of the ministering, but to equip others to engage as well.

In this video:

We give you seven steps to follow in creating a serving culture. You can increase volunteer participation, and it will increase faster and stronger when it escalates within a pre-established service culture.