The church is the Body of Christ, and each member has its function. As Paul writes in Ephesians 4:11–13, “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” One of the ways God provides for His church is through the work of so many valuable volunteers.
Many churches struggle to fill all the volunteer positions they have available. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t struggle with this in the children’s ministry at my church from time to time. However, over the years, I’ve learned a few things that have helped me to be more successful in recruiting and retaining volunteers. I hope these tips will be helpful and easy for you to apply in your own context!
First Steps to Take When Recruiting Volunteers
1. Pray for God to bring the right people to fill the volunteer roles you have.
It’s so important, and yet so easy to forget. Going to God in prayer and asking Him to grant you discernment is an important first step in recruiting volunteers.
2. Take the time to determine what you are looking for in a role.
Some positions require strong organizational skills, some high energy, and some roles are done behind the scenes. Taking time at the beginning to determine the specific job functions can save you time in the long run and provide clear expectations to the individual volunteering. Do volunteers need a certain amount of experience working with children, or is a passion for working with children all you are looking for? Knowing the ins and outs of what is needed helps you and your potential volunteer.
Within that same mindset, think about what makes someone the right fit for the role. We learn in 1 Peter 4:10:
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
Children’s ministry is not for everyone—and that’s okay! Many people will discern this on their own, but sometimes you will have to determine that and redirect a volunteer to a different role in another area of ministry.
3. Prepare your volunteers to serve well.
We want to give people everything they need to succeed as volunteers in children’s ministry. This can involve group training with all volunteers and some one-on-one conversations too. Map out important things to cover during these training sessions, like abuse prevention training and other signs to be aware of while working with children. Along with that, work with your volunteers to complete background checks. This brings peace of mind to anyone sending their children to participate in volunteer-led activities. The important thing is that everyone involved knows child safety is a high priority.
4. Lay out what the commitment would look like.
Make sure you can answer these questions for any potential volunteer:
- How often would I be serving?
- How flexible is the scheduling?
- How long do you need me to serve in this role?
- Is there any training or support I would get in this role?
When you clearly answer all these questions for someone considering volunteering, they are much more likely to say yes because they know what is expected and if it would be manageable for them.
5. Take preventative measures to avoid burnout.
The need for volunteers will never go away, but how we communicate that need is also important. Sometimes a blanket message of “volunteers needed” can be intimidating and may discourage people from saying yes if they think there aren’t enough people to do the work that needs to be done. Ask yourself if the role can be divided between 2–3 people or, instead of finding one person for an extended period, set up a rotation. I have found that establishing a rotation of volunteers where people are not serving more than once or twice a month can help prevent burnout.
6. Ask leadership for suggestions.
You don’t have to do this alone! Somebody in your church might know of someone you never would have considered who would be a great fit for volunteering in children’s ministry.
Who to Ask to Volunteer (and How)
1. Ask individuals one-on-one.
A general announcement in your church bulletin asking for volunteers is certainly a starting point, but don’t stop there! I have found that you’re going to get a lot further by asking individuals. When you ask people individually to volunteer in your church, you may be identifying and affirming their gifts in a way they have never experienced before. This may boost their confidence in the gifts God has given them and give them the encouragement they need to be willing to serve.
2. Communicate opportunities with your newer members.
Volunteering can be a way for newer members to get plugged into your church and meet more people. Not everyone is willing to jump into a volunteer position right away, but some will want to!
3. Invite your high schoolers as potential volunteers in ministry!
Children’s ministry is one of the easiest areas to give high schoolers opportunities for leadership in your church! Again, not all of them will be a good fit, but many will be! I was given opportunities as a high schooler to volunteer in my church in the nursery, in Sunday school, and with VBS. These experiences played a huge role in my decision to go into full-time ministry, where I now get to give others the opportunity to lead and volunteer in all of these areas.
Showing Appreciation to Volunteers
Don’t assume your volunteers will keep serving in the same role indefinitely! There are multiple ways to go about this, but the point is that you want to check in with your volunteers periodically to see how things are going. Allow them to switch to a different volunteer role or step back if needed.
Once or twice a year, I like to make an extra effort to let my children’s ministry volunteers know how much I value and appreciate the work they do! It doesn’t have to break the bank. Handwritten thank-you notes can go a long way! A small Christmas treat like hot cocoa and a note to show them you see them and appreciate the time they are giving can help people to continue to want to volunteer in children’s ministry at your church. Other examples of simple volunteer appreciation gifts could be Easter chocolates and a note or a $5 gift card to the ice cream place down the street from your church.
Recruiting, equipping, and appreciating volunteers for children’s ministry has its challenges, to be sure. However, when you find a new person who is a great fit for this ministry, getting them plugged in is exciting and rewarding as you equip the saints for the work of ministry.
Scripture: ESV®.
Looking for more tips to energize your children’s ministry? Learn from Cynthia Brown’s 40+ years of experience in this practical tool for church workers and volunteers.
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