The pastor, worship guy, powerhouse vocalist and small group leader tend to get all the accolades in church and @ mentions on Twitter, but the following people are just as crucial to the Body and the ministry yet they are often under valued and underrated.

1. Facilities Manager
This role is essential to the physical operation of the church. Neglect of this person could lead to breakdowns in processes, equipment and services utilized to reach and minister to people. It could also result in gross toilet overflow and numerous ambulance calls.

2. Service Host
Even though this individual is given about as much attention as a flight attendant pointing to the exits, they disseminate relevant info to guests and members alike. They can also set the tone and trajectory of a worship gathering or point people to a life-changing truth.

3. Technical Arts Volunteer
Underestimate this area of service and your speaker will be standing in the dark, the audience will think the PowerPoint is a game of scrabble and everyone’s ears will be bleeding from the microphone feedback. Most assuredly, the message of Christ will be lost in a technological dumpster fire.

4. Nursery Volunteer
This person deals in poop, spit-up and incessant crying from strange babies for over an hour so parents can hear a message from the Bible and engage in worship without distraction. That sounds more like a saint than a volunteer.

5. The Person Who Shows Up Every Week
These days, attending church weekly is scarcer than Screamo fans at a Bieber concert. The guy, gal or family that shows up every Sunday should be treasured. So, here’s to you, “Mr. or Mrs. I Come Even On Labor Day Weekend.” You are loved.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? … But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.  – 1 Cor. 12:14-16, 18

 

©2014 Jason Autry.  Originally posted at jasonautry.com