
The Church Lobby Ep 121: Six Big Shifts In How People Volunteer—And How To Respond, with Laurie Graham
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Feb 5, 2026 Laurie Graham, founder of SmallChurchMinistry.com who helps small churches develop volunteers, talks about six big shifts in how people serve. She covers the move from transactional roles to person-centered service. She explains demand for seasonal, flexible commitments. She highlights rebuilding trust, prioritizing relationships, and showing measurable mission impact.
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Exhaustion Is Emotional, Not Just Busy
- Modern volunteers report fatigue driven by emotional and decision overload, not just busyness.
- Karl Vaters notes churches must supply clear, high-value opportunities rather than more programs.
Offer Seasonal, Time-Limited Roles
- Offer seasonal, time-limited roles so people can commit for defined periods instead of forever.
- Break tasks into smaller pieces and advertise when those seasons fit volunteers' lives.
Train Before You Delegate
- Develop volunteers through training, mentoring, and shared discipleship before delegating responsibilities.
- Karl Vaters insists delegation must include the middle step of discipleship to succeed.

