The best way to keep the volunteers you have and attract others to your team is by intentionally ministering to them. Make sure your new volunteers know you care about them and the experiences they have serving in children’s ministry.
Stay curious about how they’re doing and how they feel in their role. Ask lots of questions and get their feedback. Communicate with them clearly and often—be intentional to invite their feedback to show appreciation and celebrate them. Grow with them.
Expect them to have ideas and care deeply about the ministry. Pray together and praise together when prayers are answered and show your appreciation.
Part of caring for your volunteer team is knowing how each person likes to receive appreciation. You can show appreciation in any number of ways—from a simple thank you note or an occasional treat, like a cup of coffee or a favorite snack to public recognition or a special picture from kids in your ministry.
Appreciating and Empowering You Team
You don’t have to do something big or fancy to show volunteers how much you appreciate them. There are lots of great and simple ways to show gratitude and remind your team of the impact they’re having on kids’ lives in the kingdom. Empower your team to build the team.
Make sure your new volunteers know you care about them and the experiences they have serving in children’s ministry.
Encourage your current team members to personally invite people they know to serve in the children’s ministry. Make it easy for them. Give them a script or a simple card they can give to others. People are more likely to serve when they get to share the experience with friends.
Request formal feedback. It’s important to check in with new team members often, but it’s also important to get formal feedback from them within the first 90 days. Be sure to schedule an evaluation with every volunteer annually.
Use these 90-Day Volunteer Evaluation and Annual Volunteer Survey templates to check in with your volunteers. Ask specific questions to get their input on things they’re curious about and get feedback on how they’re feeling about serving in children’s ministry.
How to Use the Volunteer Check-In and Survey for Feedback
After the four (or more!) weeks of hands-on training your new volunteer completes, place the volunteer in their role, and set a reminder for yourself or a leader to follow up with them within 90 days of their start date. Use the 90-Day Volunteer Check-In and Annual Volunteer Survey to check in and get feedback about how they’re feeling about serving.
Ask if they want to try other roles. Give them positive and helpful feedback. Give them more responsibility if they’re ready for it.
The survey for your volunteers can be a written survey (printed or emailed), or it can be a guide for a one-on-one conversation (write down their answers, so you don’t forget!).
You can also use this survey with all regular volunteers annually to find out how they’re feeling about their volunteer role. And it helps as you take time to evaluate your ministry by looking at what’s working and what isn’t.
Remember to customize this resource, so it fits your ministry.
Volunteer Feedback: 90-Day Volunteer Check-In
Volunteer Name:
Role:
Start Date:
90-Day Follow-Up Date:
Name of Trainer:
Ministry Area:
Questions:
- What do you like about the role in which you’re currently serving?
- What questions do you have?
- How connected do you feel to the rest of the volunteer team?
- What do you wish was different about the role you’re serving in?
- What can we do to make your experience or this ministry area even better?
- Is there any other ministry area or role you’d be interested in trying?
- Have you experienced any memorial “God moments” while serving, including seeing God at work in kids’ lives?
- Are you happy with the frequency of the times you’re serving? Would you be interested in serving more or less often?
Volunteer Feedback: Annual Volunteer Survey
Name:
Date:
Ministry Area & Role:
Questions:
- What do you like about the role in which you’re currently serving?
- How connected to the rest of the volunteer team do you feel?
- What do you wish was different about the role you’re in or the ministry program?
- What can we do to make this ministry area even better?
- Is there any other ministry area or role you’d be interested in trying?
- Have you experienced any memorable “God moments” while serving, including seeing God at work in the kids’ lives?
- Are you happy with the frequency of the times you’re serving? Would you be interested in serving more or less often?
- How easy is the curriculum to use, and how effective do you feel it is for teaching the kids?
- How engaged are the kids in the service?
Like these ideas? Check out David C Cook’s Volunteer Onboarding Kit and get more resources just like this one!
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
