Commitment to pray and invite

Volunteers with FamilyLife® engage in four essential ways as they carry out their ministry: they pray, invite, equip, and support. (Depending on your team role, one of these may receive greater emphasis than the others.) Therefore, all volunteer team members are committed to a ministry of invitation by serving as an active group coordinator and praying for their team and the ministry.

Commitment to team participation and communication

Volunteers with FamilyLife® pursue two God-given goals: building relationships with each other as a team (Matthew 22:39) and reaching their community through the ministry of prayer and invitation (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, team members commit themselves to participating in as many team gatherings as possible, with a minimum of 50% attendance. Additionally, volunteers communicate love and respect for one another by responding to phone calls and emails within 48 hours, unless the team agrees on a different time frame.

Commitment to follow God’s call

Like our paid or missionary staff, we take our volunteer ministry seriously. Therefore, we ask each prospective volunteer to be able to explain why they believe God is calling them to serve and how the Holy Spirit has prepared and led them.

Commitment to character

Ministering with FamilyLife® requires spiritual maturity. Therefore, prospective volunteers must be Christians for at least one year, maintain a growing relationship with Christ, and be actively committed to a local church body. While we trust being involved in FamilyLife® will support and encourage your spiritual growth, being a part of a local volunteer team is not a substitute for a commitment to a local body.

Commitment to compatibility

FamilyLife® understands many Christians may not share the essential beliefs of FamilyLife® or our philosophy of ministry, and we would never want to ask someone to support a ministry or carry out activities that compromise their beliefs.  Therefore, Volunteers must be in full agreement with the Cru/FamilyLife® Statement of Faith and Foundational Principles.

Commitment to resolve team differences

Volunteers are entrusted with the sacred ministry of FamilyLife®, and as such must have a good reputation both inside and outside the body of Christ. Each volunteer is a part of a team of Christians from various backgrounds. Therefore, volunteers must be able to communicate and work well with others, be willing to resolve conflict biblically (Matthew 18), and cooperate with the FamilyLife® supervision placed over them.

Commitment to marriage unity

Marriage is NOT a requirement for volunteering with FamilyLife®, but if a Volunteer is married, they must either serve with or have the full support of their spouse. We never want your ministry with FamilyLife to hurt your own family life. 

Divorced or remarried individuals are welcomed to serve, as long as there has been sufficient time for reconciliation and healing.  

Singles are also welcome to minister as a volunteer, whether they are never-married, divorced, or widowed.

If a volunteer’s marriage has deteriorated, we ask that they bring this to the attention of FamilyLife® leadership.

Commitment to sexual purity

Sexual purity is absolutely foundational to effective and fruitful ministry. Therefore, using biblical standards as a guide, all volunteers must have a solid track record of sexual purity, including at least one year of freedom from the intentional viewing of any pornography.