When it comes to recruiting men and women to serve in your ministry there is no secret. In fact all it takes is a simple invitation that you can do:
- From the pulpit
- Inbetween Mass
- On your social media page
- Via email, phone call or carrier pigeon
The way you create interest is not through magic but a simple invitation. The reason an invitation seems harder than it is because of the obstacles we create.
Here are five that will constantly sabotage any efforts you make:
OBSTACLE #1: LIMITED POSSIBILITIES
You know you need help and maybe people even offer to help. The problem is you don’t know how they can help, so you just don’t ask.
The solution is to take some time to think about the different roles and ways someone can serve in your ministry. It doesn’t have to be your traditional catechists, they can be people who:
- Help you plan the content
- Do the shopping for materials and supplies
- Work on office and administrative duties
- Oversee your budget and project management
The list of ways people can help you goes on and on. To figure that out talk to a veteran youth minister or reach out to us and get a free consultation.
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OBSTACLE #2: THE FEAR OF REJECTION
No one likes to be let down, especially if it takes a lot of courage to ask someone to serve. The problem with this obstacle is that we make it personal.
The “No” to your invitation isn’t necessarily about you, it could be due to the fact that they are:
- Too busy to get involved
- Unsure about their own abilities
- Feeling called to a different area of serving
In fact if someone says, “Sorry, I can’t help.” Don’t be afraid to ask why and ask them if it’s okay to follow up in a few months.
The rejection might lead to a little disappointment but it can also teach you a little bit more about how to ask, when to ask and who to ask.
OBSTACLE #3: WANTING TO AVOID GUILT
We know that ministry takes time, energy and sacrifice. We find ourselves burning the midnight oil to get the job done. In fact we work so much that it becomes hard to believe that others would do this for free.
But, there are men and women in your church looking for purpose beyond their jobs and families. They want to get involved and have an impact, you just need to ask them.
Don’t worry about asking them to make a sacrifice. There are people who want to do some of the things you might not want to do. Your church is filled with people who want to help. Again you just need to ask.
OBSTACLE #4: BUSYNESS
It’s easy to get bogged down in the urgent only to forget what’s important. Recruiting ministers takes time, but it’s time worth spent.
Make sure you are blocking out time where you are investing in potential volunteers one on one. Schedule at least two weekends a year where you are asking from the pulpit for people to get involved.
Yes, you have a lot going on, but it won’t get done if you try to keep doing it on your own.
OBSTACLE #5: PREVIOUS NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES
It’s easier to do things on our own, at least that’s the lie we tell ourselves. We’re afraid that the people we recruit:
- Won’t do it as well as we do it
- Fail to commit and let us down
- Become too high maintenance to manage
We’re afraid of that happening because it’s happened to us before. While you’ll have negative experiences with volunteers it’s important to remember why you need them.
Without volunteers you will not grow as a leader or have the capacity to reach more people. Recruiting, developing and leading volunteers is essential to your success.
Do not let any of these obstacles stand in your way. Fight through them by having others guide you, lean into your fears and trust that God wants you to have a dynamic team of volunteers.
Which of these 5 obstacles challenge you the most and how have you overcome them?