A request for nursery and child care workers at church is as old as time — or at least as old as my memory.
Churches of all sizes in every part of the state and nation always need more help with the little ones.
But a somewhat new and consistent void seems to be growing in every other area of church work as well.
Pastors, church leaders and active lay leaders across the state mention frequently how they are struggling to find people to assume the various volunteer positions in the church.
Some have determined more and more of our church-going folk don’t feel equipped to lead in the various areas.
Others say it is because of the busyness of life and how people are pulled in so many directions.
With so many demands in other parts of life volunteering to serve at church becomes an easy cut when something has to go.
Another theory is that we may finally be seeing a breakdown of the 20–80 rule, where 20% of the people do 80% of the work.
If 20% of church members for the past 30 to 40 years have carried the load and this group happens to be the 50- and 60-year-olds today who have responsibilities with aging parents as well as new grandchildren, then it is possible church life will change drastically in the next few years.
Not only are the demands and desires of the 50- and 60-year-olds different now, but also those in their 70s and 80s will gradually need to slow down some of their activities.
That leaves the 20-, 30- and 40-year-olds, who most likely fall in the other two categories of being overwhelmed and thus not able to help and/or ill equipped, in their opinion, to handle the various church responsibilities.
Whether any or all of the theories are accurate the issue remains real and something churches must address.
It may be time for each church family to seriously evaluate its activities and consider purging anything that isn’t absolutely necessary for evangelizing the lost, discipling the saved and helping meet the needs of the community to which the congregation ministers.
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