Whether it is your weekly children’s ministry, puppet ministry or just putting on a great Vacation Bible School, you need top-notch, committed volunteers.
If recruiting volunteers is up there on your list of things to do, you’re not alone. Attracting and keeping new help is a challenge to most ministries, at least at one time or another.
The good news is, it is a problem with lots of possible solutions. You might not solve the issue overnight, but even if you do not end up with a giant roster of new names immediately, plugging away at volunteer recruitment can add to your ranks and let your crew accomplish more of what it wants to do for your church and for children.
Plan to work at it all year.
Recruiting new volunteers is a year-long process. It is great to set up a table at the back of the church, but don’t stop there. Other key recruitment times include other church events such as fellowship dinners or Bible studies.
Even at times you feel you don’t need more help, invite church members to sit in on an event and see what you are doing with the children and young people. They may be more willing to help out in the future once they see what you are doing.
Adjust your thinking
You will open yourself up to a wider pool when you get comfortable with the idea that not everyone is interested in or cut out for the same volunteer commitment. Your time available and reasons for volunteering may be totally different from someone else’s. That’s okay. No reason is better than another.
Follow-up – ALWAYS!
It is a big No-No to put out your volunteer sheets and not then follow up with every single person who signs up. Even if you do not have an immediate task for someone, reach out enthusiastically and sincerely. Let them know you are glad you will be in touch soon with a task.
It is a good feeling to have someone to call when one of your people must miss an event at the last moment.
Be flexible and accommodating
If someone is only available every 4th Sunday for 2 hours find a way to involve them. If someone has an infant, look for job where they could bring the baby along. Flexibility creates good vibrations and that makes people feel valued.
Be thoughtful
Matching people to their interest or skill can make volunteering a better experience overall that, in turn, will encourage that volunteer to help out again. You can get a jump on this by providing a space on your volunteer sign-up sheets for new volunteers to write in what they would like to do.
Teenagers and college students make great volunteers. They have energy and enthusiasm that can be contagious. But, if you have a teen doing puppets when they would rather lead singing, you will have a teen that will be less committed in the long run.
Extend your Outreach
Reaching past your immediate Church community to Christian friends in like-minded churches can add to your ranks. Think about the kind of opportunities you could offer people outside of your regular Church attendance. This could include helping in the nursery on a Wednesday evening, helping in the classroom, or bringing a special devotion.
My wife and I have driven an hour to a pastor friend’s church several times to provide babysitting for the children of members of their Reformers Anonymous group.
This weekly meeting brings in non-church members, often non-Christians for help with addictions. The lack of a babysitter can keep these people from getting the help they want, so the church always provides a sitter.
At times, their regular volunteers to watch the children were unavailable, so my wife and I have driven down to do the job.
Sometimes a job needs to be done, and your church, especially if it is a small one, may not have the personnel to help. Extended family members of your church members may be Christian and willing to help. Reach out.
Offer incentives
Sweeten the deal by offering a reward. Teenagers will often be more involved if they know there is a special party or special trip for the young helpers once or twice a year in appreciation for their help. Teenagers make great volunteers for puppet ministry and Vacation Bible School programs. A special reward will help motivate them to have consistent and prompt attendance.
Think like a newbie and share like an oldie
Often, a new volunteer feels like ministry leaders talk to them as if they already know the ins and outs, but they probably do not. Even what you consider basic might be new and foreign to them.
Freely share the types of things that would have made it easier for you when you first started. For example, give as much detail as you can when you ask someone to help with a task or event.
With puppet ministry, new volunteers may not know the proper way to manipulate and handle the puppet. A little extra knowledge will help your new volunteers have a lot more confidence.
A fellow evangelist once helped me build a couple decks for a church I was a member at. Surprisingly, and slightly frustrating, too, he had no concept of basic carpentry skills. He actually wanted to eye-ball the length to cut a board.
I assumed everyone knew enough to measure a board before cutting, or how to drive a screw, but I had to teach him even those things.
Realize your new volunteers may not have the background, knowledge, and skills you take for granted.
Be patient and understanding
Sometimes it takes several conversations before someone will become full-time volunteer. That said, try to recognize the balance between gently encouraging someone and accepting when someone isn’t ready or committed.
As they participate more and more over time, volunteers usually become more committed and want to take on new and challenging tasks, too. Give them time to develop.
Emphasize short time commitments
There are many ways for church members to pitch in for short durations, either while they are learning the ropes or because they have only time for short-term tasks. Allow them to take on those opportunities early on, and it can encourage them to take on more gradually over time.
Offer at home jobs.
From updating a website, to cutting out paper shapes for crafts projects, stuffing envelopes, to designing flyers and lesson pages, there are plenty of ways people can pitch in from home make it hard for them to come to the church.
You should even get into the habit of setting aside those kinds of jobs and delegating them as opportunities come up. This is a great way to get senior citizens or those with limited transportation a chance to be involved in the church in the ministry.
Talk it up
It is tempting to rely on emails or flyers or church bulletins to get the word out about your ministry and volunteer opportunities. But it is way more effective to get personal. Just discussing the ministry and the things you are doing with church members after church or at fellowship dinners can create interest and get more people involved.
Inviting people to become involved personally and not just hanging a flyer will give you much better results and help you recruit the people you really want.
Ditch the guilt
You may have felt tempted to cancel an event due to low volunteer response, but using guilt to entice people mostly just makes them feel bad. Even if they show up for that one event, they won’t be inspired to keep helping.
Do not over manage
There are lots of ways to do something right. Offer some guidance, but allow new volunteers to try things their own way. It builds their confidence, which can encourage them to keep at it.
Say “thank you” often
From the start, make sure your volunteers know how much you appreciate them.
It does not have to be complicated, even an email that says” thanks so much for everything” following a big event means a lot. When volunteers are truly appreciated, they are more likely to spread the word and encourage others to become involved.