As we all know, one person can’t nor should operate a church on their own. It takes a community of people working together. But it may feel awkward approaching members of your congregation, asking them to volunteer their time, effort, and talents.
We put together some tips for recruiting church volunteers because they’re an extremely important part of running a healthy and thriving church. Your volunteers may have a hand in everything from administrative duties to cleaning the church, running bake sales, or singing in the choir.
Connect with Individual Church Members
Making a big announcement from the pulpit often isn’t as effective as having one-on-one conversations.
Recruitment efforts aside, it doesn’t hurt to learn more about the members of your congregation and their interests and make people feel completely welcome at church. And if a volunteer opportunity arises somewhere down the line, it will be easier to recruit willing helpers that already have a personal connection with you. Casually start your recruitment process leading up to a big church event.
Have a Clear Idea of What You Need
People will hesitate to participate if you’re only giving them vague ideas of getting more involved with the church. Because you’ve spent time getting to know your church members and their personal interests, you can ask them about individual efforts that align with their passions and talents.
Make it Easy to Join
You want to make it as easy as possible for people to sign up to volunteer and continue to stay involved. Communication is an important part of recruiting and retaining volunteers.
Make a Small Ask
People may feel more inclined to help for an event or in the short-term, rather than committing to volunteering long-term. And if you find someone who will help organize one church outing or dinner, that could eventually turn into a longer commitment — you never know.
Find People to Help with Recruitment
You don’t have to go through this process alone. Maybe there are people in your congregation that are very talented when it comes to recruiting. Additionally, make sure to ask your current volunteers if they have any of their own recruitment ideas or if they know anyone else who could join in. Inviting a friend or family member will make volunteering more fun for them.
Offer Support for Church Volunteers
Whether it’s in front of the congregation, face-to-face, or via a text message, you should regularly thank your volunteers for their sacrifice and hard work. Make sure your volunteers know they’re appreciated and offer them any support they need.
Do whatever you can to set your volunteers up for success. You may be able to get them equipment, knowledge and training, or more volunteers that will make the job easier on them.
We hope that these strategies help you get plenty of volunteers for your church. Make sure to check back in with our church leadership blog for more helpful articles.
