Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill.
Tammy Kelley, director of People Resources

When it comes to ministry, the prevailing attitude at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., is one of a desire to make it as easy as possible for members to begin serving as soon as they express an interest. With that as the goal in mind, Tammy Kelley, who oversees People Services at Willow Creek, and others on the Leadership Team, have devised a plan to accomplish this goal. First Serve opportunities were created as a way to provide members and nonmembers alike the chance to test out various ministries before asking them to commit. Tammy says that First Serve opportunities also allow people the ability to jump right into serving and bypass some of the details that go along with getting involved in ministry.

The implementation of First Serve opportunities meant there would have to be a change of mindset for the leaders of ministries at Willow Creek, Tammy says. The ministry leaders would, in some cases, need to literally create opportunities that would be conducive to someone wanting to simply test out the ministry, opportunities that would allow people to just show up and begin serving. And Tammy is happy to report that the staff and ministry leaders really stepped up to the task!

After an individual decides where their passion for serving lies, Tammy says that the next step is a vital one because it is the step that helps to quickly connect that person into the ministry to which they feel led. The tracking team and the ministry leader both receive an e-mail letting them know that someone would like to join their ministry. This system, Tammy points out, is very beneficial to the follow-up process.

An extremely effective tool for promoting ministries is the page of Willow Creek’s Web site devoted to volunteers and service. (To take a look at that page, go to: www.willowcreek.org/serving.asap) The page includes a Top 10 list, which is a list of current First Serve opportunities, and it’s very user friendly for individuals to click and get plugged in!

Tammy emphasizes how important the staff and ministry leaders believe it is to truly honor their volunteers. The valuing and appreciating of volunteers is done both corporately and individually, and both are vital to making sure that those who are serving feel valuable and significant. Every year, a service at Willow Creek is devoted to spotlighting the volunteers; there is often a theme with a special performance by a comedian or a musician, a video presentation that highlights individuals and the impact they are making as they serve. Food and desserts are even provided as an additional way to treat the volunteers to a special night in honor of their service.

Willow Creek Community Church stands out as an example of a church body that strives to do everything necessary to give individuals the chance to serve.