{"id":36596,"date":"2023-08-17T19:04:34","date_gmt":"2023-08-17T23:04:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/blog\/the-ministry-leaders-guide-to-elevating-your-volunteer-strategy\/"},"modified":"2024-12-20T10:39:48","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T15:39:48","slug":"the-ministry-leaders-guide-to-elevating-your-volunteer-strategy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinkorange.com\/blog\/the-ministry-leaders-guide-to-elevating-your-volunteer-strategy\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Ministry’s Volunteer Strategy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s no secret that next-gen ministry can\u2019t happen without volunteers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need people to . . . <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare snacks and meals,
<\/span>Check-in kids and students,
Communicate messages,
Run sound and slides,
And lead small groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, even if your ministry doesn\u2019t i<\/span>nclude all of those thing, or you could do all of those things yourself, you shouldn\u2019t. However, that doesn\u2019t mean finding and keeping<\/a> volunteers in your ministry is easy. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a ministry leader \u2014 recruiting, training, and retaining volunteers may actually be one of the most difficult things you do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do we recruit and retain the right volunteers? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building Your Yearly Next-Gen Ministry Volunteer Recruitment Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you hear the words \u201crecruiting volunteers\u201d chances are a few things come to mind. Maybe you think about a pitch on a Sunday morning<\/span>, or a <\/span>big event .<\/span> Maybe it’s just sheer panic because you know you have a lot of recruiting to do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if when you think of recruiting volunteers, you actually begin to think about it as <\/span>inviting?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all,<\/span> we aren\u2019t just looking for warm bodies to fill roles so we can get a to-do list done. We are actually inviting people to influence the faith of the next generation. We are inviting people to develop disciple kids and teenagers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, how do we invite the best leaders to be a part of our ministry? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Invitation > Public Announcement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Making an announcement during a Sunday service is one (good) way to recruit volunteers. You can even program a whole Sunday service or another event to recruit volunteers. While that can be a good start, relying only<\/em> on an event is not a good idea. Instead, leaders are looking for a personal invitation to make an impact. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Year-long Process > One-Time Event<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Just like a one-time event won\u2019t recruit your best leaders, chances are, a one-time event also won\u2019t recruit enough leaders. That\u2019s why you should be inviting leaders to be a part of your ministry all year long. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leverage Your Leaders (And Network)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what\u2019s true: your best leaders will recruit your best leaders. So, ask your volunteers for recommendations on who they think should be on your team<\/span>. Then, make it easy for them to help you recruit leaders. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, your volunteers aren\u2019t the only ones in your <\/span>network you should leverage<\/span><\/a>. Ask your executive leaders, friends, and coworkers if they know of anyone who would be a great person to add to your team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, here\u2019s a bonus tip: Ask the people who say no to volunteering two questions: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan I ask you again in the future?\u201d
<\/span>\u201cIs there someone you know who I should ask?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This way, you not only know if they would potentially volunteer in the future, but you also now have more names of people you could ask. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expect More, Not Less from Volunteers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now, it also matters how you invite people to be a part of your ministry. <\/span>When you feel desperate, it can be tempting to downplay <\/span>the role so the ask doesn\u2019t feel as big. Resist that temptation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaders will want to know that they are giving<\/span> their time and energy to something<\/span> that matters. Not to mention, both you and your new volunteer will be disappointed in the long run if you aren\u2019t honest about your expectations upfront. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find Support Resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Clearly, the recruitment (and onboarding) process for volunteers is a lot<\/span>. <\/span>The good news is that we have resources that can help: <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n