Email blasts, announcements from the pulpits, and flyers on car windshields are only a few of the methods we have tried when it comes to recruiting ministers. It can be a painful process because the idea of hearing, “NO” breaks our heart and leaves us hopeless.
If you want to successfully recruit volunteers for your youth ministry you need to KEEP IT SIMPLE. That means making the process less intimidating and frustrating. To be successful at this you need to:
Give Them A Test Drive – Ministry can be intimidating, especially with teenagers. Many reasons people will turn you down is because they think it’s all in or nothing. Allow them to witness and shadow a night of your ministry. Sit down with them afterwards and invite them back for another try if they are unsure. A non committal test run, takes away the fear of signing their life away.
Eliminate Surprises – With the growing need for paperwork and background checks getting involved in ministry can be like taking out a mortgage on a house. This can be shocking to someone who just wants to serve teens. Make the process simple and clear by laying out the steps they will need to take ahead of time. This way they won’t be caught off guard when you say, “Welcome to ministry, now let’s go to orientation and training.” Clear expectations allow them to walk in confident in your leadership.
Share The Vision – Ideally you want your volunteers to serve once a week, every week for an entire year. If possible you want them for more than just a year. That’s a lot to chew; therefore, give them a vision of what happens when they invest in the ministry. Share with them testimonies, give them a window into your passion and let them know that it’s more than just chaperoning. Help them see WHY so they can see past the HOW.
Get Their Input – Once they commit and begin serving, follow up with them. This way they’ll know you are happy to have them on board as a team player. Not only will they feel included in your ministry’s mission, but you’ll gain insight you’ve never heard before. Sitting down with them to hear their thoughts will affirm their decision to serve alongside of you.
You need ministers and it will always feel like you cannot get them fast enough. Be patient and develop a system so that when the mass communication hits the air waves you are prepared to bring them along. While you will still hear, “NO” from time to time, you won’t make the process as painful as going to the dentist.
What steps would you add? How do you recruit volunteers into ministry?
