Youth Ministry - Getting Volunteers

1. Don’t wait till the last minute. Begin early with your recruiting for several reasons. Most adult volunteers have full time jobs so they need to know in advance if time off from work will be required. If you wait until the last minute those who assist you may feel rushed to make the decision, or they may feel unprepared to do a good job. Also, if you wait till the last minute the person you think would be best for the position may already be assigned by another ministry. Look over next year’s schedule and mark the events that need volunteer assistance and start recruiting now.

2. Recruit in person. It’s a poor idea to ask for ministry volunteers with a general plea from the pulpit unless you want a lot of “generals” in your ministry. Typically, unqualified people sign up when it’s open to everyone, which can result in an embarrassment to the person, the ministry, and yourself.

Make a list of prime candidates and solicit them in person. By hand picking volunteers, you ensure getting the ones you feel are best for the job.

3. Provide adequate answer time. Give volunteers at least a week to pray and think about the role you are asking of them before they have to make the decision. Never push for a quick answer.

4. Be up front. Let your volunteers know what you expect from them even before their ministry begins. Let them know how much time and energy it will require, what their job will entail, and how you expect excellence. Volunteers may quickly feel overwhelmed, or ineffective if they don’t know exactly what to do. You don’t have to hold their hands, but do hold their hearts.

5. Let volunteers help develop their ministry role. Point your volunteer in the direction you want him or her to go, then ask that they share their vision for the ministry. Give them hands on experience in designing and growing their portion of the ministry by allowing them to submit their ideas to you and take risks.. It’s a fact that people are more committed and do a better job when they share ownership.

6. Let volunteers know they are not alone. Volunteers need the assurance that they will not be in for a struggle alone. Offer your support and guidance from the moment they accept responsibility. Provide your home phone number to let volunteers know you are available for them at all hours.

7. Check in, but don’t check up. Call all volunteers once a week to make sure everything is going well in their ministry, and reassure them of #6. Use questions that probe for any help they may need, such as: “Is there anything I can do from my end to help your ministry?” or “How are you dong spiritually?”

Avoid using language or questions that indicate you are unsure about the job they are doing. Such as: “Are you sure you don’t need some help? This project really needs to go well.”

8. Demand an uncompromised lifestyle. Enlist volunteers who are talented, motivated, and joyful, but most of all godly. The biblical precedents set for leaders go for volunteers as well.

Create your own commitment contract for your volunteers based on your church’s tradition, and expect your volunteers to sign it before they can go into action. Here are a few things that should be on your list no matter what your fellowship:

· Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life.

· I refuse to participate in gossip.

· I will always uphold the values of this ministry.

· I will love each teen without partiality.

· I will commit for _________(length of time).

Spend an afternoon writing your volunteer contracts. A contract helps the volunteer know the expectations that come with the position, and will serve as a constant reminder of the oath associated with their ministry.

9. Praise Privately. Don’t just catch volunteers doing something right, catch them doing lots of things right. Keep a stack of thank you cards handy to send when you witness or hear about a volunteer’s good work. Keep a set of postcards nearby as well to send during the week as thoughts of encouragement. Place a sticky note on their car door that simply says “Thank you” and don’t sign it. Pour on the praise without reservation in as many ways as possible.

10. Praise Publicly. Once a year hold a volunteer appreciation banquet to honor all your ministry servants. If your church prints a bulletin or service sheet, publish the names of all volunteers along with their area of service. If you can, bring them on stage during a service so the entire congregation can thank them.

Praising publicly not only helps you hold on to the volunteers you have, it helps you recruit. Who wouldn’t want to become part of a youth ministry where they are actually appreciated?