I’ve been with a church-based international organization, for more than 20 years now. Some members have left due to old age and illnesses, and some have died. We should be recruiting more to replace those who have left, but it is not easy:
Unlike other organizations, it has strict guidelines and practices written in a handbook whose author is the founder who was based in Ireland. The aim is the sanctification of the members and to help the church spread its teachings. We have to meet every week to report on our assigned tasks. Officers have then to report to a higher council every month. And the officers of the council have to report to the next higher council every month also. So imagine the demands on the time of the officers. No wonder, it is so hard to make the members consent to be officers. But when I was younger and newly recruited, I consented to be an officer until I had to report to the two next higher councils in a month. But after a while, I pulled the brakes on being an officer of the higher council again after the first term, since I was also a chapel officer.
It is hard to recruit people who are employed full time although one can always make time for it like the sisters I know who are so devoted to it they not only give their time, but treasure as well. Most of the time our recruits are seniors, those in between jobs, and those who have micro businesses or full-time moms. Most of us are female, although, males are also allowed to join. There are also junior versions, but the work they are required to do are suited to their ages.
It used to be the norm that every household has a helper then since the wages were not legislated. Now, the wages of helpers are not only higher and legislated, but they should also be provided with benefits such as social security membership, health insurance and membership in a home insurance system. Now, most of the households subscribe to stay-out helpers who come a few days a week to do the laundry and do some cleaning.
Probably, it is harder to recruit members nowadays as prospects weigh in on the cost of joining: time means money to hire somebody else to do the household chores. Even retired grandmothers are usually requested to baby-sit or tutor their “apos”. Sometimes, it is frustrating to wait for a prospect to retire, only to be told later on that now, she cannot join as she is busy with her apo.
But someone determined to work in the vineyard of the Lord will not mind the cost and will find a way. There are some benefits to joining the organization one realizes after a while, although they may not always be material.
bougainvillearo 