Recruiting Volunteers
Originally posted on umyouthpastor.com:
I have heard many ideas on how to recruit volunteers, and tried everything from catchy inserts to booths at ministry fairs to pleading from the pulpit, and all have had marginal results. Why? They are impersonal. When Jesus wanted to recruit, what did he do? He walked up to people and asked them to follow him.
If you ask people in your church why they do not volunteer, many of them will say that it is because they have not been asked. So here is the method I have found to be the most productive at finding volunteers:
The Six Steps
First, you need to have a place to put them. It sounds obvious, but many times we ask people to show up to something and then have nothing for them to do. Develop several types of roles that volunteers can fill that vary in amount of interaction with students and amount of time required.
Second, you need to realize that the people most willing to help with your students are their parents because they have a vested interest in seeing the youth ministry succeed. Ask them first. Then, get leads from you volunteers. Finally, walk around looking panicked after worship and see who asks if you are ok.
Third, when you ask, have a specific task in mind. People get frustrated when you offer too much, wait until they cannot do what you are asking to bring out the whole volunteer menu.
Read the rest...
I have heard many ideas on how to recruit volunteers, and tried everything from catchy inserts to booths at ministry fairs to pleading from the pulpit, and all have had marginal results. Why? They are impersonal. When Jesus wanted to recruit, what did he do? He walked up to people and asked them to follow him.
If you ask people in your church why they do not volunteer, many of them will say that it is because they have not been asked. So here is the method I have found to be the most productive at finding volunteers:
The Six Steps
First, you need to have a place to put them. It sounds obvious, but many times we ask people to show up to something and then have nothing for them to do. Develop several types of roles that volunteers can fill that vary in amount of interaction with students and amount of time required.
Second, you need to realize that the people most willing to help with your students are their parents because they have a vested interest in seeing the youth ministry succeed. Ask them first. Then, get leads from you volunteers. Finally, walk around looking panicked after worship and see who asks if you are ok.
Third, when you ask, have a specific task in mind. People get frustrated when you offer too much, wait until they cannot do what you are asking to bring out the whole volunteer menu.
Read the rest...