How To Recruit Quality Volunteers
Courtesy of Cheerful Givers/Creative Commons License In my second year of student ministry our church embarked on a huge event that required many...
Courtesy of ryanmilani/Creative Commons License
You never realize how valuable your team is until one of them leaves. It’s like losing a friend or breaking up with someone you love. Granted there are many reasons as to why a volunteer will step down; however, the worst is when they didn’t feel supported by you as a leader. I remember the first time it happened to me I was puzzled. I had worked hours plugging the program, bringing students to the youth night and writing incredible curriculum; however, it wasn’t good enough. In the end it turned out that the volunteers who were leaving weren’t being SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
As a leader you need to care for your ministry volunteers before anyone else. While you were called to serve teens and their families, if you don’t have volunteers you have a limited reach. To set them up takes strategy and to develop that strategy you need to get to know their burden, problems and obstacles. To get started here are 3 questions a leader should ask their team:
- What Resources Do You Need? Your job as a leader is to set-up your team for success. Maybe it’s buying them a pack of pens or sending them to a conference. Don’t assume that because you have what you need that they are all set. How they serve in the trenches of youth ministry is going to be different from you.
- What Do You Wish You Could Stop Doing? One of the great characteristics of your volunteers is that they’ll do what you ask. Sometimes they’ll even take on responsibilities that drain them. They might be afraid to tell you because they know you count on them, this is why you need to ask, “What do you wish you could stop doing?”
- How Can The Team Support You? Just like you, your volunteers have a life outside of ministry. Whether it’s welcoming a new child into their family, a death, job transition or just busyness at home, they have a lot going on. As a leader you need to support your team. Checking in and asking them, “How can I serve you?” Will not only boost their morale; but, their trust in you because they see that you care about them.
Granted you might not be able to answer all their requests; however, make it a goal and put it on your to do list. As a leader you cannot doing everything; however, it’s important for you to be aware of their needs, wants and burdens.
What questions do you ask your team to set them up for success?