Vital Volunteers, Volume 2

Last week's article in this space was "Vital Volunteers for Youth Mission Trips." You can find it in the archives. In it I shared my pet peeve of youth ministry volunteers who say, "I'm just a volunteer." I hear it a lot. And it bothers me because volunteers are way more valuable than the phrase "I'm just a volunteer" would suggest. The article pointed out how important volunteers are in youth ministry—especially on youth mission trips.

So I asked readers to send in good snappy comebacks to the phrase, "I'm just a volunteer." Something we could say to people who tell us, "I'm just a volunteer." Something that would make them stop and take notice of how valuable they really are. Something that would lead them not to use that phrase again as they realized how much they're needed.

And I got a nice response—more than I've ever received before. It was fun! And it confirmed two things about youth ministers: 1) We appreciate the value of volunteers, and 2) We have a good sense of humor! You'll see what I mean.

There were some readers who replied but didn't send in a comeback. Jillian Miller from Indiana volunteers in her church's youth ministry. With her husband she volunteers 15-20 hours a week leading youth group and Bible studies for youth, even having youth at their home often. She's right to say, "I'm an unpaid youth leader." Absolutely she is. Thanks, Jillian!

And Kelley Ramey from Oklahoma is a full-time paid youth minister who wrote to say in no uncertain terms she couldn't do it without volunteers. In fact she says, "Without 'just volunteers' there just wouldn't be a youth ministry!" So true. Thanks for recognizing the importance of those volunteers, Kelley.

But for those who were looking for a good comeback, here are some of the best ones to the saying, "I'm just a volunteer."

Paul Richardson from Colorado, Jullie Meyer from Tennessee, and Rusty Sietsema from Michigan (among others) offered: "That's OK, so were Jesus' disciples."

A couple people mentioned a comeback that youth said: "We love it that you're a volunteer, because that shows you're here because you want to be here—not because you have to be here." Amy Ford from Florida actually had a girl in her youth ministry say that to her. (Of course paid youth leaders also serve youth because they want to, not because they have to. Most of them could be getting paid more doing something else. But this comment from a student shows how much youth appreciate caring adults and don't think you're "just" a volunteer.)

Jovan Barrington from Alabama used a movie quote (Finding Neverland) to spice up the comeback: "Just is a candle-snuffing word. You're a light to our youth.'"

Brenda Yeager from Iowa has a good point when she says: "Just a volunteer? That's like saying you're 'just' a heart or 'just' a lung."

Virgil Walters from Mississippi gets theological with his comeback: "Jesus volunteered to die on the cross for your sins."

Joyce Kuczma from Pennsylvania points out: "Christ fed 5,000 people with the kindness of just one volunteer."

And Patrick Lennox from Florida offered quite a few great comebacks, including:

"Well you're 'just' the person we're looking for."

"So are the kids!"

"Even better, I can't get any of the staff to go."

But my favorite quote from Patrick is this: "I am too, they just pay me more." To which I said many youth ministers could add: "But not a lot more."

Isn't that fun? Thanks to everyone who responded! Feel free to keep them coming. I'll be happy to print more goodies in the weeks to come if we get them. Please use any of these comebacks in your ministry.

Oh sure, there's a difference between paid and volunteer youth ministers. We likely expect paid youth ministers to have more training and expertise in the management of youth ministry. And maybe we expect them to set the vision and develop the plan to lead the youth ministry. But that says nothing about them having more value to the lives of teenagers than volunteers.

Paid or not, professional or not, God can use you to touch the lives of teenagers. Thanks for serving.

Doc Newcomb is a pastor, youth pastor, and Program Manager for Group Workcamps Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides a variety of short-term mission opportunities for church youth groups.