One of the most exciting things for a church is adding volunteers. In fact, every great church is adding volunteers regularly. This is a sign of growth, and your volunteer number dictates to a degree the health of the church. If you are not regularly adding new volunteers, it could be a sign of the lack of health in your church.
When you add a new volunteer, you cannot just throw them into the fire without instruction. If someone wants to serve in an area as simple as a “greeter,” they want to know a few things before their first day on the job. You have to be conscious of the outsider, not just how we insiders think. I might view the “greeter” position as the easiest position out there, but the outsider wants to know the specific expectations of the position.
Here are four questions that every brand new volunteer wants answered before they begin serving.
1. What time do they need to be there? Be specific! If you want them there at 7:30, you be ready for them at 7:30.
2. What are their specific responsibilities? Look, new leaders do not like to show up and just do whatever. They want to know the clear expectations of the task that they have been given. Be clear and concise in your expectations. By the way, you cannot explain and remind them enough of their expectations.
3. What time can I leave? Always give an end time.
4. Do I know a few people serving in my department? I always try to connect the new volunteer with a couple of people before their first time-serving to make it as easy of a transition as possible.
When you volunteered for the first time, what did you want to know on your first day?