7 Reasons Why Your Church/Ministry Should Hire a Virtual Assistant
Many pastors, leaders, and church staff today are spending a lot of time focusing on administrative tasks. These tasks are shifting their focus from the other major roles that need their attention. Church budgets are also tighter than ever, requiring ministries to do more with less. A virtual assistant can provide ministries with quality administrative support, just like (or even better than) that which is provided by a traditional onsite employee.
Here are some ways a virtual assistant can help you sustain and further grow your ministry:
1. A virtual assistant is cost effective and efficient, saving time and money.
- A virtual assistant can be retained to work on exactly what is needed, for however long is needed. Since they are independent contractors, they are solely responsible for their own taxes and benefits. You don’t have to worry about payroll taxes, pensions, vacation, holiday, retirement, or other benefits such as medical insurance, etc. It’s more cost effective than hiring a full-time employee.
2. A virtual assistant can cater to your needs in the ministry by doing specific tasks that need to be completed in a timely manner.
- There is almost no limit to the type of services a virtual assistant can provide. They can respond to email, answer the phone, manage your calendar, take care of database management, book travel arrangements, conduct research, handle projects, edit websites, and so many more possibilities.
3. Virtual assistants are dedicated and committed to their quality of work.
- Virtual assistants understand the benefits of being very productive and delivering value to their clients. They provide administrative support, which in turn frees up your time to focus on the undertakings that help advance your ministry. Your virtual assistant will understand your ministry and vision and incorporate that knowledge into each and every assignment.
4. Virtual assistants offer more sustainable staffing than part-time or temporary employees.
- Part-time employees tend to stay in their positions for shorter periods of time, creating an increase in positional turnover. Temporary employees can fill the gap, but by design, they are only temporary. With a virtual assistant, you have a dedicated person committed to the goals and vision of your ministry without having to deal with positional turnover. If there is a staffing change, the virtual assistant company bears the burden of training and managing the turnover—and in most cases, primary and secondary virtual assistants are already in place on each account.
5. Virtual assistants offer more predictable staffing than volunteers.
- Volunteers are great resource, but there are some “can’t miss” items that should not be put in the hands of volunteers. Volunteers go on vacation, change churches, and rarely have trained backups. With a virtual assistant on staff, your “can’t miss” items will not get missed.
6. Virtual assistants use their own office supplies and equipment.
- Virtual assistants have personal equipment such as computers, printers, and faxes. You don’t pay for office supplies.
7. Virtual assistants are easier to hire and fire than traditional employees.
- It can be difficult to find employees who are the right fit for a church staff. It takes time and energy to read applications, interview, hire, conduct performance reviews, and perform corrective HR actions. Additionally, firing a church employee—especially one who's also a member—can be a difficult, delicate procedure. Since the day-to-day management of the virtual assistant is the responsibility of the virtual assistant company, it alleviates many of the issues common to HR procedures and practices.
With the advancement of technology and tighter budgets, virtual assistants are becoming more common and even necessary to sustain and grow ministries. Is it time for your church to begin to rethink its staffing structures and explore the possibility of engaging Virtual Ministry Assistants?
