Last month we broached the possibility that at some point in the future, we may have to consider paying those staff members whose primary purpose is seeing clients.

Today — when it comes to seeing clients — our ministries are primarily volunteer-driven. Yet, with more women in the work force and less time for volunteerism during the daytime hours, many ministries face severe volunteer shortages.

If there is a volunteer shortage, paid staff are seeing more and more clients — and facing burnout. As a board, we must regularly ask our executive director whether the paid staff is incurring too much of a client load. Every client brings with her emotional pain and trauma; no client visit is routine. Because of this, staff can expend only so much emotional energy before wearing down.

While they may never admit it to a board, more staff members turn in resignations, claiming a "calling" to anything but staying at the center. They haven't lost their love for the ministry; they've simply run out of gas. One of the highest callings of a board is to protect the staff — those on the front lines of spiritual battles day after day. If we drop this ball, we open the door to dissension, frustration and spiritual lapses.

When we are confronted with an executive director or another staff member who seems to have lost the passion for the ministry, the underlying cause may be overwork. What's difficult about this is that the staff member may not be putting in extra hours. Instead the key factor is that during those hours she is seeing client after client.

The clients she sees unload tons of emotional baggage. While we want to our staff member to "remember to give it to God," it's not that easy. A loving staff member will empathize with pain. When we empathize, we share. If someone does this four or five times a day, she becomes tired in a hurry.

For instance, when is the last time a close friend or employee unloaded a problem to you? If you are like me — the writer — you consider this person's words for days to come. Now, let's multiply that by four or five times and realize that this might happen to a paid staff member for an entire week before she gets a break.

Tired yet? I am.

As we mentioned last month (for a copy simply email me below), this doesn't mean we should run out and start hiring. It does however, mean that we need to monitor the situation and begin praying through solutions. Let's not let a great staff member wear down and leave us; let's keep in mind the importance of looking out for her spiritual and emotional well-being.

Reprinted by permission from Boards of Excellence, a LifeTrends publication. If you'd like to know more about the resources provided by LifeTrends that can be used to encourage your volunteers, educate your Board, and reach your supporters, contact Kirk Walden at kirk.walden@comcast.net.