10 Ways to Cultivate Quality Volunteers

10 Ways to Cultivate Quality Volunteers

“As long as they’re breathing I’ll take them!” While we may not have said it, we’ve probably all thought it when it comes to volunteers.

There are times we’ve all asked our pastor to make an announcement to the congregation that volunteers are needed in the kids’ ministry. These tend to be the times we’re focused on quantity. We just need people in the rooms every time the doors are open. We’re desperate.

Serving is important. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” When we pursue quantity, we have found we often end up right back where we started…needing more volunteers. They simply don’t stick.

Quantity-Focused Results
  1. Volunteers who show up…sometimes.
  2. Volunteers who interact with kids…if they’ve run out of things to talk about with the other volunteers.
  3. Volunteers who do whatever is needed…if they receive public recognition and a pat on the back.
  4. Volunteers who engage with kids…if they’ve finished telling you all their personal woes and needs.
  5. Volunteers who follow instructions…halfway and half-heartedly.
Quality-Focused Results
  1. Volunteers who show up…every time, grateful for the opportunity to serve.
  2. Volunteers who interact with kids…in a way that is uplifting to the children.
  3. Volunteers who do whatever is needed…even when no one is looking or notices.
  4. Volunteers who engage with kids…as an opportunity for ministry.
  5. Volunteers who follow instructions…thoroughly, even going above and beyond what’s expected.
Here are 10 ways to help cultivate quality volunteers:
  1. Communicate expectations…what they can expect from you and what you expect from them.
  2. Emphasize the importance of their personal relationships with Jesus…including daily times with the Lord and attending weekly services.
  3. Clearly communicate the value of kids’ ministry…it’s not babysitting or childcare.
  4. Build a relationship with them…beyond what’s going on in the children’s ministry.
  5. Communicate your care for them…personally, spiritually and practically.
  6. Laugh…make your environments fun for everyone.
  7. Recommend good “reads” or “listens”…books, articles, podcasts.
  8. Remind them that their serving has eternal value…and is making a difference now.
  9. Model Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
  10. Invest in your volunteers…inspire, equip and support them, often.

When it comes to effective KidMin volunteers, quality comes first! What are your best methods for recruiting quality volunteers?

This article originally appeared here.