Gaining a volunteer is not nearly as important as getting a fellow minister who just happens to be a volunteer to join you in accomplishing the vision God has revealed to you. If you want to have more than underlings working for you, the way you recruit them to your team is vital. This step-by-step process has been effective in many, many settings.
Step 1: Set up a meeting with the possible volunteer.
Step 2: Meet with the possible team member and…
1. Thank them for meeting with you and tell them why you asked to meet with them.
2. Describe the vision (the visible image of the final outcome) that you have for the ministry.
3. Tell them you have been watching them and praying about talking to them about joining the team. That you see in them gifts and abilities that God could use to accomplish the work.
4. Tell them what will be involved… How many hours per week you believe the responsibility will take, when any meetings they will need to attend will be, any retreats or training experiences they will need to attend, etc…
5. Ask them if they’d consider joining the team.
6. Tell them you’ll call them to see what they think God is telling them to do in seven days. If they say they’re not sure or haven’t heard from God yet, tell them you’ll call them again in a couple of days. Be sure you do.
Step 3: Call the volunteer (on the day you agreed to call them) to see if they will join you the team. If they agree tell them you’ll be sending them some important information via e-mail.
Step 4: E-mail them a list that includes 1) an overview of the ministry and the purpose statement of the ministry, 2) the names of the people they will be working with, 3) a job description of the role they will be doing, and 4) when and where to meet you for orientation and when and where they will receive training.