Are there enough workers? Yes. Are there enough willing workers? No. The 5-10 members out of a congregation of over 700 members are relied upon by everyone involved and that is why it continues. What would happen if the church stopped those activities that the congregation relied upon to make things more productive or comfortable? Would their hearts change or would they find another church that had those activities and services available? Would the pastor be willing to lose many disgruntled members over one burnout worker?

This is precisely the reason why Christians first need to pray. Have faith. Out of those other congregation members, there is a good chance of the right person to step forward to help with that particular service. Oftentimes the problem is that as I mentioned, too much complacency takes place within the body of believers and they rely on a very small minority to get the job done.

Take for example, a soccer game. They have all these positions such as goalie, center field, etc. Compare this with the church. We have pastor, teachers, missionaries, ushers, etc. Like a soccer team, we need a few willing participants in each position.

The reason I mentioned burnout is because like me, at one point I had four to five different activities. It was getting to the point they were beginning to interfere with one another. The straw that broke the cammels back for me came when I was talked to harshly about forgetting to help set up for an activity. I was on the Social Committee then and I felt persuaded to join it at the time. I realized that's not where God wanted me to be, only where the church wanted me to be. Nevertheless, I withdrew, knowing that I didn't fit there.

Thank God, somebody else who God wanted there, took my place. Can we get a burnout? Yes, only if a certain church ministry is not where God sees you. Instead of serving Him, it would become a duty and the only one behind that in that case would be Satan. He wants us to be so thinned-spread, that we don't have the time to direct our worship on God and to zero in on the ministry that God really wants us to be in.

today we had a service devoted to local mission organizations. there is a great need for helping hands.

but I was sitting there in the pew thinking about how no one knows what another person does in their time away from church. it's important not to judge and assume. for all I know, the person in front of me goes to the homeless shelter to serve every evening and tells no one.

I personally don't want others to know what I am doing. if I don't brag about it, they will simply not know, so I am sure they assume I am one of the 80% sitting on my bum, but shhhh, don't tell anyone, I am not in the 80%.

that said, there is always so much to be done and the need is great for help everywhere you turn, so, yes, we can all be doing much more.

it is the same as DS if you think about it the percentages some go cause the feel the need to go but reeally dont want to be there or hubbys to keep the wives quite I think.

That makes sense. If the wife wants to help and the hubby says shhhush because he really doesn't want to be there any longer than he has to be, she is stuck.

You guys raise an interesting point. This 'phenomenon' was discovered by a guy named Pareto and is called the Pareto Principle. He applied it to economics (I think). But it is true in most areas of our lives, and very possibly, church too. However, I think mechellebelle makes a good point by stating that we don't know what some people are doing for the Kingdom outside of the church building. But praying for helpers/volunteers - definitely! I am the worship/music coordinator for my local church and I need to get off my butt and pray more about that - more musicians, singers, etc.