Using the One God Brings

If I were an employer, planning a women’s event, I would naturally want to hire those who have training and experience in the various areas of need.  I would choose someone who came highly recommended.  In the world, that would be the wise plan of action.  It’s just common sense to use those best qualified for the job!

However, as we plan a retreat or women’s event, God always reminds us that His ways are not our ways.  His ways are often the opposite of the ways of the world.  We don’t get to hire those most suited and gifted for each particular job.  We primarily rely on volunteers to fill positions and do the work.  And while churches may be fortunate to have talented and experienced people within their membership, the truth is that those people whom we might choose in the flesh are not always those who volunteer.  We may initially be disappointed or tempted to look elsewhere for help.  But God often chooses the one who is willing and available to be used by God, rather than the one most qualified (by worldly standards) for the job.  “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (I Cor. 1:27).  He uses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary!

Of course we want to use people as much as possible with regard to the gifts God has given them.  But often, opportunities to serve are the vehicle God uses to reveals His gifting.

The Hotel Liaison – Authorized!

To add a little more about our “hotel liaison“:

One of the reasons it is wise to assign a person to this job is that those authorized to make decisions or bring complaints to hotel management should be limited.  This avoids the confusion caused by allowing anyone and everyone (all well-meaning, of course) to bring issues to hotel personnel.  Without a designated person authorized to speak for the group (normally our retreat coordinator and/or hotel liaison), you can end up, for instance, with women going to the front desk to complain that the room is too hot, while others are complaining that they are too cold.

The person authorized to be the “hotel liaison” needs to be introduced to your group, as well as to the hotel management.  Your women need to know that they are not authorized to speak for the group, and that they should take any complaints to the “hotel liaison.”  The hotel needs to know that only the “hotel liaison” is authorized to give them instructions or changes.

A “Runner”

So many issues that a retreat coordinator is called upon to resolve require going to the front desk, going to a particular room, finding a certain individual, a leader or various hotel personnel. There are times when the coordinator needs someone to run errands for her.  She needs someone to follow her instructions, quickly and efficiently.

Having a “runner” to call upon for minor errands can save many steps for the retreat coordinator.  When assigning this responsibility, it would be wise to consider someone who:

• Is familiar with how retreats are run;
• Knows her way around the retreat location;
• Knows the key retreat people;
• Is not easily distracted;
• Works well under authority.