What do you think?
Rate this book
Volunteering: A Guide to Serving in the Body of Christ
Volunteering can be a rewarding and exciting experience—but to effectively serve you need to understand the why, how, and what of serving others. Based on the principles and training they have utilized at Wooddale Church, pastor Leith Anderson and Jill Fox will help you better This short and accessible book will help you to find the resources you need to be inspired and trained to serve in the most vital workforce in the world today—the church of Jesus Christ.
112 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2022
A very helpful, short read to remind people why we serve and who we serve. Nothing necessarily ground breaking in the book, but still a fantasy reminder of the joy of serving god and others.
August 7, 2017
I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley web site and the publisher, Zondervan in exchange for an honest review.
A short quick guide but with a lot of information in it.
I have been in volunteering in one way, shape or form in the 35 years that I have been a Christian. I have led departments (sound) and been a background person (kid's ministry) and a little bit of everything in between. I did not think that this book could tell me a lot about it, but I wanted to get some new ideas and thought this might do the trick. I was surprised and not disappointed.
While most of my Christian ministry of late has been online and this book deals with the local church, a lot of the material can be used for the online world.
The book deals mostly with the one in the trenches. One thing that it talks about finding your gift so you can serve effectively. So often we do not know where our gifts are and so if we do volunteer we do it in the wrong place, get discouraged and never volunteer again. So the authors encourage you not to quit but to seek someplace else to use your talents. There is even a guide to what your spiritual gift could be.
One think I liked that is not talked much about is that the authors gave a whole chapter to burnout. I speak from experience, it is real in Christian ministry volunteering. They talk about sensing it, and what to do about it from both sides, the leader and the person who volunteers. This was a powerful chapter.
I recommend this book to any who will be leading or volunteering in a Christian ministry. If you are a breathing Christian, this means you.
A short quick guide but with a lot of information in it.
I have been in volunteering in one way, shape or form in the 35 years that I have been a Christian. I have led departments (sound) and been a background person (kid's ministry) and a little bit of everything in between. I did not think that this book could tell me a lot about it, but I wanted to get some new ideas and thought this might do the trick. I was surprised and not disappointed.
While most of my Christian ministry of late has been online and this book deals with the local church, a lot of the material can be used for the online world.
The book deals mostly with the one in the trenches. One thing that it talks about finding your gift so you can serve effectively. So often we do not know where our gifts are and so if we do volunteer we do it in the wrong place, get discouraged and never volunteer again. So the authors encourage you not to quit but to seek someplace else to use your talents. There is even a guide to what your spiritual gift could be.
One think I liked that is not talked much about is that the authors gave a whole chapter to burnout. I speak from experience, it is real in Christian ministry volunteering. They talk about sensing it, and what to do about it from both sides, the leader and the person who volunteers. This was a powerful chapter.
I recommend this book to any who will be leading or volunteering in a Christian ministry. If you are a breathing Christian, this means you.
February 8, 2019
I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I have been a volunteer in our church for many years, and it amazes me how many of the things that need done there is done by volunteers. This well-written book tells about building a volunteer system in the church. It talks about identifying and using individual spiritual gifts to help the church to thrive. It also shares ways to steer clear of some of the pitfalls, or burnouts of volunteers.
I feel like this would be a good book for any of the church staff.
I have been a volunteer in our church for many years, and it amazes me how many of the things that need done there is done by volunteers. This well-written book tells about building a volunteer system in the church. It talks about identifying and using individual spiritual gifts to help the church to thrive. It also shares ways to steer clear of some of the pitfalls, or burnouts of volunteers.
I feel like this would be a good book for any of the church staff.
November 10, 2025
This book will energize and inspire those that are volunteers and those that are leading volunteers. It’s easy to read, concise and packed with lots of useful and practical ideas that can be implemented immediately. Volunteers are making ministry happen. Use this book as a resource for ways in which to encourage, celebrate, honor and care for those that are essential to the ministry of the church- our volunteers!
May 6, 2022
Ok for an intro. At 100 pages half is trite anecdotes and study questions. Also speaks of volunteering as calling, obligation and even “our job” instead of focusing on love and gratitude. Does do good job on the importance of celebration and “thank you”!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews