Volunteer Recruitment is one of those things about ministry that we can find ourselves dreading. We can get ourselves so nervous that we end up avoiding even asking people for help. We don’t want to feel like used-car salesmen or guilt people into volunteering. As leaders, we genuinely want people to use their gifts for the kingdom, and we want to offer spaces for them to do so. But the actual ask can become overwhelming if we let it.
How can we go about building our ministries? What is the best approach to recruiting volunteers? Is it more relationship building than a blanket ask? Is it knowing people enough to understand their heart and desires for using their particular gifts before asking them to do anything?
Let’s look at volunteer recruitment beyond generic ask for help from the stage. What would it look like to build relationships while recruiting volunteers?
Build connections with the people in your church and then find opportunities for them to serve.
Recruiting Volunteers: Building Relationships
Build Connections and Find Opportunities
Each time we personally fill needs in our ministries that could be accomplished by a volunteer, we are limiting someone else’s opportunity to serve. And, many times, we’re taking on more than we can really carry. This is not to say that you won’t ever have to step in and help or fill a roll for a while, but if there is work, there is always opportunity!
So how do we discern whether someone would not only be good at a role, but also enjoy it? We simply get to know them. Knowing people gives you insight into their gifts, their passions, and their heart for the church. And until we know them, we are simply begging for bodies to fill rooms instead of finding meaningful opportunities for people to serve.
We want to know the people we are asking to volunteer, so we can serve the children in our ministries to the best of our abilities. Build connections with the people in your church and then find opportunities for them to serve.
As you come to know people, ask them to simply give it a try before making a long-term commitment. While it’s a great goal to get as many people involved as you can, go about it in a way that gives them an opportunity to serve and see for themselves what your ministry area is all about. Those that belong and believe in what’s taking place become your best spokespeople and grow the capacity of your ministry.
The key to all of this is to make personal asks one on one, whether you’re asking or another team member is. Personal connection always trumps stage announcements.
Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families
Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families
Growing Volunteers: Building the Body of Christ in Ministry to Kids and Families
Seek to Understand: Care About Everyone You Interact With
When someone shares the reason they can’t volunteer, they are sharing a part of themselves and their story. Take the time to appreciate and understand this. This can create an opportunity to build trust and comfort them through challenges in their lives.
You may learn that they have low self-esteem and are afraid of letting you down; they might have just lost a family member and are dealing with grief; maybe they are going through a divorce, and the custody battle is brutal. Maybe it’s as simple as they don’t have time right now. When they are sharing any reasons like these with you, they are trusting you with a piece of their lives.
And maybe they need to say no to this specific opportunity, but you have built trust and you know more about them to better connect them with a great future opportunity. They will see your care or lack thereof. Be sure to give them a good experience, even in their ‘no.’
Continue connecting with them when they say no. If you only build relationship with the people who say yes to serving in your ministry, people will begin to feel like you only wanted them involved for what they could do, not for who they are. And relationships are more about relying on one another than producing for one another.
Communicate Well with Clarity: Give Specifics
Give people the same courtesy that you expect from them. As we said, be gracious in the ‘no’ responses and the ‘maybes.’ Another courtesy you can give those volunteering is to give them space to lead, so they can feel ownership in their roles. If they feel like they don’t have space for ownership, they are less likely come back to help again.
If you are looking for specific roles to help, post those role descriptions on your website or in the lobby. Make sure people can see clearly what the need is. They may even feel prompted to serve without you calling them to ask!
Giving your volunteers space and ability to be involved in team building is a great way to grow an already connected team.
Volunteer Relationships: Get Help Recruiting
Do your current volunteers love working in your ministry? Our current team can be the biggest asset in gaining more volunteers. They also have relationships and first-hand experience of what it’s like to work in our children’s ministries.
In your Sunday circle-up, encourage your team to talk to their friends about available roles that could be a good fit for them. Or maybe a current volunteer is interested in a newly available role, and they are excited to help you find a replacement for their current role! Giving your volunteers space and ability to be involved in team building is a great way to grow an already connected team.
Planning While Running: Building Relationships
For many of us, this honestly sounds like a dream, but what we really need is someone to fill a nursery role on Sunday. That happens, we’ve all been there! Sometimes filling the spot is the next thing we have to do. But we don’t want to stay stuck there week in and week out.
So, while you are running, also keep planning. Maybe instead of looking at the ideal roles you have for your ministry, also look at your people and fit roles according to their passions and talents. Right size your ministry for those who are serving and build from there.
Keep in mind that in ministry, when our goal is kingdom building, we want to pour into our volunteers with as much love and energy as we can. We pour into them as they pour into those they are serving—our kids. And to pour into one another, we must be in relationship.
So, whether you already follow a solid recruitment strategy, or whether you are just beginning to rethink your plan—connect with the people around you and care for each as Christ would care for His church.
