One of the most difficult things about running any sort of kid’s ministry is finding people to help, specifically volunteers. It’s one thing to recruit and pay staff but it is quite another to have to recruit people to carry responsibility and not pay them for it.
So what methods / tactics are you using to recruit and keep great volunteers?
And more importantly…are they working????
I’d like to suggest an idea that seems counterintuitive at first, but it really works.
The idea is simple: Recruit busy church members.
Now I know right off the bat you are saying to yourself (and perhaps to the screen in front of you) “That doesn’t work because busy people don’t have any more time, that is why they are busy in the first place!!!”
(ok, ok, calm down a little…..)
While the fact that these types of people are busy is true, what’s not true is that their schedule is completely inflexible should they be presented with an interesting opportunity.
Look at it like this…
busy people (like everyone else) have limited time, so they have to limit what they do with their time. Time is precious and no one knows that more than the people with a packed schedule.
So…the reason you should be pursuing busy people is that more often than not they are some of the most reliable, timely, and prepared volunteers you’ll ever have.
Anyone who is managing a busy life, and doing it well, understands the value of things like being on time, taking responsibility seriously, fulfilling their commitments, doing their part, and more. These “core” traits that we all want in every one of our volunteers are already a part of a busy person’s lifestyle.
So after getting to know these “go-getters” a little, approach them with a specific opportunity to serve.
Give them an opportunity to consider if there is any time they have that might be better served, serving in kid’s ministry.
When you give people like this a well-thought out opportunity to serve it impresses them and makes them feel like you value their time and their energy. And that alone goes a LONG way in getting them on board with what you are doing.
So instead of looking for people who are “bored” in your church, pursue the people that are already making things happen, the people who already lead busy lives. You might just be surprised at the response you get, and the quality of service these types of people will provide.
Share this post:
