Finding and keeping kidmin volunteers is a big job. Thankfully, 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!” 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!” If only it were that easy.
I have had the privilege of working at wonderful churches of different sizes. The one thing they all had in common? I was always on the lookout for more workers. The bigger the vision, the more people it takes to make that vision reality.
Three Dog Night taught me a valuable lesson. “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do!” God didn’t intend for only a select few people to perform ministry. 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 starting his earthly ministry was to recruit help. If Jesus needed help, you and I need truckloads of it.
Paul wrote 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 four groups of people are taking gospel message to others. Paul taught Timothy, Timothy taught reliable men, who were to teach others also.
In 30 years of building volunteer teams, I’ve realized that people need to be needed more than we need the help. Raising up kidmin volunteers who stick is a win-win for the local church and for the helpers!
Recruit People & Identify Their Gifts
First let’s look at the basics of volunteer management.
- Encourage your team to recruit others. Jesus allowed his team to recruit two of the 12. So be available and friendly! I’m on the lookout for potential workers at 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 for volunteers 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 a lack of 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, let us 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 Sunday school class for a quarter and say, “Tag, you’re it.” If you’re a dumper, the word is out on you! Let new recruits start by watching; then add responsibility slowly.
This is also the time to teach helpers your church’s way of doing things. Train volunteers in your policies and procedures. These should answer “What do you want me to do?” and “How do you want me to do it?”
2. Immerse volunteers in your vision.
Use every method available: spoken, visual, and written (blogs, websites, brochures). Let pictures and video tell your story. Vision is contagious! My vision is what keeps me going. If that vision won’t allow me to quit, neither will it allow others to quit.
3. Give kidmin volunteers a model or example.
People do what they see. Showing is a much better way to train than telling. When you regularly model ministry, everyone keeps moving forward on the same page.
4. Build trust.
If you want volunteers to trust you, be a person of integrity. 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. So 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 that 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 either. But you learned by doing. Now it’s time to return the favor.
8 Encourage others.
Everyone can use a little encouragement. Not only do they respond well to it, but they flourish. Here’s a great habit to develop: Catch people doing things right! In fact, have your 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 team members 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.
