Every children’s ministry is different. Yet we all share common ground when it comes to volunteers: we never have enough and recruiting is a challenge.
Prior to teaching a workshop on volunteer recruiting and writing a book chapter on the same topic, I contacted several dozen churches and asked them to share their most successful strategies for 1) asking new volunteers to start and 2) challenging existing volunteers to expand their involvement. One approach, applicable to both scenarios, outnumbered all others by a ridiculous margin. What is this approach? A deliberate, personal conversation. Sure, this might sound too simple. Consider, though, how many people in the Bible responded to a one-to-one challenge. And while broad programs have an important role in ministry, people today still respond best to an individual they already know.
Dan is one of those people. But he didn’t just show up on his own in Promiseland (the children’s ministry of Willow Creek Community Church), he had help getting there. A ministry leader watched Dan begin as a special event volunteer, then return as an adult helper. During a conversation this leader said, “I can see some potential in you, Dan. Are you enjoying this?” He went on to challenge Dan to consider a weekly role leading a small group. An important factor in the story is that this recruiting occurred as part of an existing relationship. It wasn’t a cold hit in the middle of a hallway or in phone call from someone Dan didn’t know.
Our senior pastor, Bill Hybels, says that personal relationships are a key to success in volunteer recruiting—just as in evangelism. “You have a much higher likelihood of inviting someone into service if they know you and trust you,” he explains.
Bill goes on to suggest meeting over a cup of coffee and sharing a well-thought, personal ministry vision and invitation. He offers this example:
“Fred, the 60 minutes I spend with kids in Promiseland each Sunday is the best 60 minutes of my week. I might get to teach a kid from a non-churched family how to pray. I might tell a kid from a broken home that God loves him. Or maybe I can take a kid who’s scared and put my arms around him and tell him he doesn’t need to be afraid because God is his friend. Fred, would you be willing to come one time—with me—to see what God is doing in Promiseland?”
Some people serve every week from the outset; others graduate to this frequency from special event or monthly adult helper status. Whatever the path, it’s a significant time investment. To gain insight on a volunteer’s journey toward committing to every-week service, I talked to Dan about his experience. He said, “It was a big deal for me to say ‘yes’ to being an every-week volunteer. On one side, I was weighing what my family life was like on the weekends. We had a boat, and that created good family time. My kids were involved in soccer leagues and played all the time. And I’m a salesperson who needs to make some sales calls during the weekend.”
But the leader who talked with him wisely said, “Dan, only you can grapple with all those issues. I’m asking you to pray and see what God tells you to do.”
Dan said, “When I would pray, this opportunity started to seem irresistible. I wanted to make a difference in the lives of ten kids as a small group leader. I just couldn’t walk away from it. So I said ‘yes.’ Fact is, our whole family started serving in Promiseland. It was amazing to us that we didn’t care so much about going boating on the weekends anymore. And the kids didn’t want to sign up for as many soccer leagues, so our schedule got a little easier. What it did inside of our family was more than worth the effort it took to reschedule our calendar.”
Whether you want to ask someone to begin volunteering in your ministry, or your intent is for an increased level of involvement, one of the most effective tools at your disposal is a one dollar bill. Here’s how it works:
- Buy the person a cup of coffee or a soda (okay, at Starbucks you’ll need $2).
- Say one or two clear lines about the ministry’s vision.
- Share one or two lines about what the volunteer experience has done for you. personally (with a potential volunteer) or specific passion/giftedness you’ve noticed in the person (with a current volunteer).
- Ask “Will you come with me just one time and simply watch what happens in our ministry?” or “Will you pray about this important role you can play?”
- Stop talking.
Consider handing out dollar bills to several members of your team, including key volunteer leaders. Challenge each of them to have one-one conversations, and then watch what happens.
Just make sure to personally hand them the dollars and issue the challenge.
Over a cup of coffee.
Sue Miller has served for fourteen years as the executive director of Promiseland, the children’s ministry at Willow Creek Community Church. Sue consults and trains children’s leaders around the world.
This article is taken from Making Your Children’s Ministry the Best Hour of Every Kid’s Week by Sue Miller, Zondervan Publishing, 2004.
Copyright © 2006 Promiseland.
