It was what support staff needed

When a new church staff member comes on board, specifically in the area of office administration/support, it takes a while to really grasp the handshake between the “what we do” and the “why.” Staff can either forget ministry and get lost in organizational details, or lose the organizational details because it’s “just ministry.” To become an excellent support staff member, we need to hone our skills and our hearts.

Having worked in various support roles for many years, I appreciate the way ChurchWorks is providing training for administrative staff that addresses both skill and ministry. We want to know how to better use Outlook, but also how organizing our email will sharpen our ministry focus. We want to know how to have a web-based system of tracking membership, but also how this is going to help connect people into meaningful, life-transforming relationships. We want to protect the church by understanding the legal issues we’re facing. We want to free up time for our pastors by shortening the steps between preparing a message and preparing a PowerPoint presentation.

We also want to understand how great assistants free up great leaders. We want to relieve their load and use the gifts God has given us to shine our light. ChurchWorks is validating the role of support staff and giving us courses that fit. They’re helping us be practical and purposeful at the same time.

Teresa Klassen is a member of SunRidge Community Church, Kelowna, B.C., where she serves as team leader for small groups.