6 ways to kill a ministry

1. The leader spends too much time telling everyone else what to do instead of asking for input from other volunteers.
   Volunteers want to discuss the most effective ways to minister, not be told what to do and how to do it without having the freedom to express their own ideas.  Allow them to be creative and use their God-given gifts to serve as Christ's hands and feet.
   
   
2. The ministry focuses on solving an immediate problem, rather than coming up with a solution to implement a long-term change.
   Always steer the ministry to help come up with a way to implement long-term results.  How will this ministry survive and evolve once you're out of the picture?
   
   
3. One or two volunteers sign up to do everything, leaving nothing for others or others not being asked to help in a specific way.
   When there are no tasks to be assigned because a small group of people is doing everything and other volunteers aren't getting asked to do anything, volunteers will become bored and move on and out of the ministry.  This could be prevented by trying to evenly divide the tasks so everyone has an investment in the ministry and is responsible for something.
   
   
4. Volunteers minister in their own time without regularly meeting as a group face-to-face.
   It's important to spend time on fellowship within ministry.  If volunteers don't know each other, they won't see the impact and gifts everyone is using to make a difference for the same cause to which they have a call.  Fellowship not only creates and deepens friendship but it allows each other the opportunity for affirmation and problem-solving, motivating each other to persevere.
   
   
5. One volunteer tells another what he or she must do.
   Form leaders with specific areas of accountability, and then train those leaders.  Make sure everyone in the ministry knows to whom they can go if they need help or have questions.  This also takes the pressure off of one person being in charge of everything, sometimes resulting in ineffectiveness.
   
   
6. Volunteers are critical of each other in how they minister.
   Work hard on establishing a loving and encouraging environment.  Again, fellowship will help to support this.