Book Description

"This study measured the satisfaction of volunteers at Church Alive, Florissant, Missouri. The purpose of this project is to provide a model for increasing volunteer satisfaction so that churches are able to maintain a healthy, vital volunteer cohort for their programs. This model can help leaders to understand and relate to volunteers by using the tools of this model to assess needs and motivation and to determine whether needs have been met. Adequate support systems are more critical today when it is increasingly hard to find volunteers. It is the hypothesis of this project that volunteers will have greater satisfaction in service when the project leader opens doors for volunteers through interpersonal contacts during training and supervision. This has taken place through imparting shared vision, enabling others to act, giving support and encouragement, and modeling the way -- helping volunteers to realize their potential in ministry. The volunteer population consisted of an experimental group of 16 women and four men. Thirteen were leaders of ministries of the church and small groups; seven were instructors for Homework Help, an afterschool neighborhood outreach. The control group was selected from volunteer children's workers and ushers. During the project implementation, the project leader conducted orientation meetings where volunteers were introduced to procedures for the semester. The vision of outreach was reaffirmed. During informal meetings, the project leader discussed issues with instructors, gave instructions, training, provided modeling of instruction and sought feedback. The project leader discussed the progress of the work and followed up on unresolved issues. The treatment group received the nurturing supervision mentioned above as well as specific in-service instruction related to their positions. 'Nurturing' includes interacting in specific positive ways with volunteers for the purpose of ministering to them personally and helping them to gain insight into God's plan and purpose for them. After surveys were completed, the volunteer interviews prompted more in-depth discussion and resolution of issues. The many written and oral comments received during the project indicated that the interpersonal contacts throughout the project created greater satisfaction in volunteers. Volunteers answered the question, 'Do volunteers have greater satisfaction in service when the project leader opens doors for volunteers through interpersonal contacts during training and supervision, which include imparting shared vision, enabling others to act, giving support and encouragement, and modeling the way -- helping volunteers to realize their potential in ministry?' This project clarified a number of factors in volunteer satisfaction. Volunteer satisfaction is linked with supervisory support -- especially when there is a connection between the leader and the individual volunteer. Most importantly, it was evident that volunteer satisfaction is definitely associated with good communication. Additionally, it was found that volunteer satisfaction is closely associated with input in decision making. It was also found that intrinsic motivation is very significant to volunteer satisfaction"--Abstract.