Finding and keeping kidmin volunteers is a big job. But children’s ministry leaders have expert tips for accomplishing this important task. Keep reading for 20 tips on retaining top-notch Sunday school helpers.
On any given Sunday, from thousands of pulpits in churches of every size, you can hear this plea. “We need workers, we need workers, WE NEED WORKERS!”
Wouldn’t it be nice if recruiting workers were like a game of Red Rover? You remember, “Red rover, red rover, send workers right over!” It would be nice if it were that easy. I have had the privilege of working at some wonderful churches of different sizes, and the one thing they have all had in common was that I was always on the lookout for more workers.
The truth is, the bigger the vision, the more people serving and helping it takes to make that vision reality.
Three Dog Night taught me something valuable: “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do!” Ministry was never designed to be done by only a select few. Our mission found in Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
That’s a big job that calls for a great team. The Bible says Jesus had the Spirit of God without measure. Yet the first thing He did when He started His earthly ministry was recruit help. If Jesus needed help, you and I need truckloads of it.
Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others also.” Here we see four groups of people taking the message of the gospel to others. Paul taught Timothy, Timothy taught reliable men, who were to teach others also.
In 30 years of building volunteer teams, this is what I’ve realized. People need to be needed more than you and I need the help. Raising up kidmin volunteers who stick is a win-win for the local church and for the individual!
Recruit People & Identify Their Gifts
First let’s look at the key basic of volunteer management.
- Encourage your team to recruit others. Jesus allowed His team to recruit two of the 12. I shouldn’t have to say this to people in the ministry, but be available and friendly. I’m on the lookout for potential workers at church, special meetings, Starbucks, Sam’s Club. In fact, I’m on the lookout for workers everywhere I go.
- Identify giftings you need. Then watch for people who display them. Look for people who vocationally manage people. Look within your organization for people to promote. Your answer to your need for workers isn’t always someone from the outside. Pray team members in.
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Be specific! Make a list of what you need and want. If people were no problem, where could you use a worker?
Make sure you qualify all candidates. I require potential volunteers to complete an application, submit references, allow us to do a criminal background check, and conduct an interview.
20 Ways To Retain KidMin Volunteers
After volunteers are in place, make sure they stick. Use these 20 important tips.
1. Start volunteers slowly.
Don’t dump them in a class with a Sunday school for a quarter and say, “Tag, you’re it.” If you’re a dumper, the word is out on you! Start new recruits out watching, and add responsibility slowly. This is also the time to teach them your church’s way of doing things. Train them in your policies and procedures; these should answer the questions: “What do you want me to do?” and “How do you want me to do it?”
2. Immerse them in your vision.
Use every method available to you: spoken, written—whether on blogs, Web sites, or brochures—and visual. Let pictures and video tell your story. Vision is contagious. Over the years, I realized my vision is what kept me going. If that vision wouldn’t allow me to quit, neither would it allow others to quit.
3. Give kidmin volunteers a model or example.
People do what they see. “Show” is a much better way to train than “tell.” When you model ministry on an ongoing basis, it keeps everyone moving forward on the same page.
4. Build trust.
If you want your volunteers to trust you, be a person of integrity and do what you say. Prove yourself! Don’t lead by position only. Show people you are worthy to be followed.
5. Be real and transparent.
People like a leader who puts their pants on one leg at a time. Be normal! Admit your struggles and shortcomings. Be approachable. Put yourself in the volunteer’s place, and look for ways to make their load lighter.
6. Invest your time in others.
The time you spend in others is never wasted. You cannot develop leaders without investing your time in them. Discipleship is taking someone who is Christ-like in an area and letting their Christ-likeness rub off on others.
7. Believe in them.
Give kidmin volunteers a chance to do ministry. Let them learn by doing. “But Jim, they’re not as good as me!” At one time, you were not as good as you, but you learned by doing. Now it’s time to return the favor.
8 Encourage others.
Everyone I know could use a little encouragement. They not only respond well to it, but they flourish. Here’s a great habit to develop. Catch people doing things right! In fact, have your key staff write three thank-you notes each week. This practice will change your ministry.
9. Be a coach.
Coaches motivate, teach, make corrections, and maintain team spirit. They point their team to the next level, both corporately and individually. Even the greatest athletes in the world have a coach.
10. Ask for commitment.
The greater the commitment, the sweeter the victory. Every time I’ve asked volunteers for a greater commitment, those who rallied and said yes were the best volunteers I ever had. Rotating workers might be a quick fix, but it doesn’t produce long-time volunteers.
