Why Your Volunteers Will Stick Around For Years

It was hard to leave the youth ministry at my last parish. Over the years I had gotten to know the teens and their families. I had seen a lot of change in the church and the community, to say goodbye was rough. But, the people who were the most difficult to say so long to were a few of my volunteers. In the 12 years that I was at the parish, a handful of them had been there almost every year. It was because of the men and women I was able to reach goals and build a healthy ministry.

Now I’m starting all over again and it feels like a scramble to build a team. It can be both physically (because of time) and emotionally (because of rejection or the fear of it) draining. And then there is the pressure of recruiting enough and it’s easy to lose sight of something just as important, keeping the ones that you have. If you want to reduce the stress of recruiting and build a ministry that will last you need to focus on reducing turnover. If you want your team to serve with you for the long haul then be sure to:

CREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

It’s pretty cool when you see relationships develop in your ministry. A teen who trusts an adult or a parent who feels like they have a partner in raising their child is special. It’s also pretty incredible to see your volunteers become a cohesive community. When leaders have a community there is a willingness to pitch in and serve in new ways. You as the leader are no longer solely responsible for the morale and culture of the team and that allows you to invest in the ministry at a new level.

To create community amongst your team you need to create opportunities for them to connect outside of serving like:

• Doing something fun and unusual (e.g. ax throwing, escape rooms, etc.)
• Invite them over for a cookout or potluck
• Participating in a mission or outreach project

You might get a few but that’s okay the point of building a community is so that you can learn more about each other and build trust. You’ll develop something that’s attractive, which could lead to more volunteers.

HELPING THEM DISCOVER THEIR POTENTIAL AND PURPOSE

If the people who volunteer in your ministry see themselves as helpers and chaperones then eventually they’ll get tired and move on to something else. One of the reasons people get involved in serving is because they are looking to add something into their life, your ministry could be that something.

Help them discover their potential and purpose by introducing them to a bigger vision of what they can do. In our ministry we want our volunteers knowing what it means to be a healthy leader. We teach them about being empathetic, collaborative, Christ-centered. In our meetings, we discuss what God is calling them to do and how it’s more than just showing up.

If you have a strategic leadership team guide them go through an assessment like Meyers Briggs, DISC or Strength Finders. Send them to workshops where they can learn skills that not only apply to their ministry but everyday life. If your team feels like you care about their well being then they will want to stick around. A leader who is fueled is one who will continue to evangelize.

GIVING THEM OWNERSHIP 

If you are going to invest in their ability to lead you might as well give them opportunities to weigh in on the vision and mission of your ministry. When you ask your volunteers to not only serve but provide feedback and take responsibility it communicates their value to the team. They might not have feedback or maybe aren’t ready to step-up but knowing that there is an opportunity to grow is an incentive to stay.

If you are afraid of giving away too much control, start out by asking them to do something simple like ordering food for a meeting. Check-in with them and follow up. Whether they succeed or fail you want to make sure you debrief the situation. It’ll help you create dialogue and trust, which will lead to confident leaders who want to come back.

If you keep your team around year after year it’ll give you the space you need to grow the ministry both deep and wide. People will be more familiar with you and they’ll be more willing to help you in extraordinary circumstances. Build a community amongst your team and allow them to be a part of the journey.

What practices have helped you keep your team around for the journey?

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