The word recruiting gives some people an uneasy feeling. Maybe even you (or just “someone you know”). Queasy just thinking about the rejection last time you tried? It’s possible those butterflies come from your belief that church people have given the word a bad reputation—and, uh-oh, you’re a church person.
C’mon. What’s all the fuss about?
Why are we so obsessed with negative stereotypes when it comes to recruiting?
Ask any number of people about their biggest challenge in ministry, and without fail recruiting volunteers will emerge the most popular answer. And unflattering associations will, undoubtedly, come traipsing after.
Difficulty in recruiting has become the “common cold” of ministry.
Think about colds for a moment. Everybody gets one, there are tons of ways to treat one, but nobody can seem to find the cure. But we try. Oh, how we have all fallen victim to the latest trend in cold treatments; sucking on zinc tablets, taking a high dose of vitamins, and even medicine-infused hot tea. There seems to be no shortage of new ideas as to how to rid ourselves of the problem.
Same goes for volunteer recruiting.
The buzz around this topic is always high; you’ll have no problem finding tons of resources and books on recruiting tips and techniques. Yet, it still remains the pesky little area of ministry we don’t quite know what to do with. But the need hangs around. Never goes away. And, finally, can no longer be ignored.
Better find the Kleenex box: Sounds like we all have the recruiting cold. But maybe we ought to check the accuracy of the diagnosis before popping the zinc tablet and sipping that awful tasting tea.
MIS-DIAGNOSIS #1: Recruiting is too much pressure
Need volunteers? Feel pressure to get them? Chill out.
Where is this pressure really coming from? Chances are strong that it’s from you. Free yourself from feeling like you HAVE to recruit, by realizing the truth that you GET to recruit.
REALITY #1: Recruiting is offering someone an invitation to serve God
Oftentimes, we try to pass off recruiting responsibilities to someone else who has the time to recruit. Someone with talent for the job. Someone—no, anyone—other than us.
But, that’s not the way Jesus did it.
When recruiting His disciples, Jesus simply said, “follow me” (MT 9:9). With two fishermen, Simon Peter and Andrew, Jesus said, “Come along with me, and I will show you how to fish for the souls of men” (MT 4:19). Jesus’ actions show four key steps we can apply to our recruiting needs:
First, we must take action ourselves (“come along with me”). We individually need to show up; recruiting is a critical need that begins with you. This doesn’t mean others aren’t also involved. Indeed, they must be. But recruiting at its finest is individual relational endeavor—and that individual is you.
Second, we are to be personal examples (“I will”). For a potential new volunteer, “follow me” is as uncomplicated and easy an invitation to understand—and to follow— as it gets.
Third, we are to show the way (“show you”). You don’t ask someone to follow you, and then do nothing, have no plan, or do things in a confusing manner. Know beforehand what you want your recruit to see and learn from you. Then execute.
Fourth, we are to set lofty, Christ-like goals (“for the souls of men”). The first three steps matter not a wit if the picture we paint and the reality that we deliver to our recruit results in anything less than eternal Kingdom gain. Don’t water down the truth that your goal is fishing for the souls of children.
MIS-DIAGNOSIS #2: I don’t have the right recruitment program
If we pulled cards out of a recruiting issue box, a few issues would likely prove popular:
“My senior pastor won’t announce that the children’s ministry needs help from the main stage, so now we don’t have enough volunteers.”
“The leadership team of our church will only let me recruit for leaders in the church lobby once a year and that is just not enough.”
“The children’s ministry is in the basement, so nobody sees us—how am I supposed to get help?”
It’s very easy to come up with a laundry list of excuses as to why we don’t have enough volunteers. And developing that list wastes time, depletes energy, and discourages those involved. Yes, identifying problems associated with recruiting is both easy and tempting. Resist, though, and focus on this truth…
REALITY #2: Your recruiting need is not about programs
Sure a church wide volunteer campaign can serve as a good means for bringing new people to your ministry. But don’t rely on it alone.
It’s your mindset that needs updating, not your programs. Think of an ongoing stream designed to unleash the vision of what God is calling your ministry to do. Sometimes the audience will be the entire church. Sometimes it will be your next door neighbor.
MIS-DIAGNOSIS #3: This recruiting problem will never go away
Recruiting is indeed a constant need. But a problem? Is the recruitment glass perpetually half empty, never more than a task that no one appreciates and no one wants to do?
REALITY #3: Recruiting isn’t a problem, it’s a privilege.
In His Great Commission—to make disciples of all nations—was Jesus talking only about salvation? Not a chance. He was speaking about full devotion. Among other things, this means cheerful, free-spirited giving of our time and talents to the local church.
Inviting someone to serve in your ministry is a part of spiritual development—for both of you. It is not something to be feared or forwarded on to others. It is something for which to be proud.
Take the next few months and start measuring your success by the number of people your people bring in instead of the number of people you or your recruiting program brings in. In other words, pay close attention to the 1-on-1 efforts of folks already in your ministry.
As you serve in your own area of giftedness, and encourage and develop your volunteers, your volunteer team will become stronger. And as current volunteers feel more connected and comfortable they’ll become natural recruiters for your ministry. There is nothing more exciting than seeing volunteers bring other volunteers alongside them to experience serving together.
Well, that’s it. Article’s over. Were you expecting to receive some brilliant new ideas? Or some revolutionary “answer” to your recruiting woes? Disappointed? Be honest.
The final point we need to consider: There is not one single ‘magic bullet’ answer to recruiting. You and your team surely have more ideas, excitement, and vision the flows through your veins than you even know. Again, the time has come to unleash it.
Forget you ever heard the word recruit. Forget you dislike the idea of having to ask people to help you. Instead, figure out what you’re about. What makes your ministry the most important, fulfilling part of your life? Allow what you love most about your service to God to overflow in you. Let it permeate everything you do. And then watch God use that passion to attract others—because plenty of people who attend your church would love to find something to feel passionate about, too.
We church people make it seem sometimes as if recruiting is everything—the key to success. It’s not. Stop sweating over the number of people you don’t have. Develop and grow those God has already brought you. Serve them. Be positive. Be infectiously happy in your service. Be you. Forget about asking people to help you. Call them to the opportunity to serve God. And let them see how exciting it is as they watch you and your team in action.
There is no recruitment cold, common or otherwise.
Now… go.
Ashley Cornelius serves as the director of volunteerism for Promiseland, the children’s ministry of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois.
Looking for a great tool to help you recruit through a one-on-one conversation? Click on this link to read the article “High Impact Recruiting.” Full of easy to follow and inspiring steps to unleash the vision inside of you, this article will set you on the path to becoming a strong recruiter.
Copyright © 2007 Promiseland.
