I just heard from one of our newsletter readers. She asked, “how do you get volunteers to help you with the children.” I thought it would be a good question to open up here on the website.
Here was my basic response, you can also read a post I wrote about finding volunteers for Vacation Bible School:
Finding Children’s Ministry Workers
- Make a list of what kids ministry workers you need
- Pray over this blank ministry volunteer roster
- Brainstorm a list of anyone you think would do a good job. Write them down even if you think they will say NO.
- Work down your potential volunteer list. Approach them face-to-face if possible, but phone calls & email work too. Ask them to help – be specific about what / where / how often.
- If they say No, thank them and move down the list.
- If the positions are still open, restart the list.
I hope that helps, it takes some boldness. But I believe that serving the kids is a blessing and honor for people – so I’m doing them a favor by recruiting them.
Share your ideas in the comment box below.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
This is a good way to bring on new volunteers. I take it that by “restarting” the list you don’t immediately contact people who said “no” earlier, rather you consider fresh sources of people who might be interested in helping out.
I believe that being specific with people about what they will be doing is important. Not everyone is gifted as a teacher, but they make for wonderful helpers. Some helpers eventually become teachers as the Holy Spirit guides them and expands their talents.
Here’s my 4 steps for a recruiting conversation:
1. Explain what the position is and what it entails.
2. Explain why you thought of them–encourage them that they would be a valuable asset.
3. Provide them with how long of a commitment it would be.
4. Ask them to pray over it and set up a time to get back with them if they don’t seem gung ho at the start (I usually tell them I’ll get back with them in 4-5 days)
Andy Johnson
http://www.freecmstuff.com
This is good, Tony. I am going to put these ideas to immediate use! I so appreciate that prayer is an essential ingredient.
I would like to share with you my conviction from the Lord. I have been the preschool director at our previous church and am currently the Sunday School director over the entire SS program. God convicted me while I was the preschool director and told me to ask the parents of the kids in the preschool room. He told me that if they wanted to show their children how to effectively minister to others, the kids needed to see them ministering to others. So, in order to give that opportunity to show their children how to minister, the teachers in my class were the parent’s of the kids in my class. I have been blessed with a pastor that agrees with that conviction and has told me to fall the calling of the Lord to take that approach again.
If you have all things ready, the teachers are happier. The less your teachers have to prepare the happier they are and the more they come back to help. I hope this helps anyone. God Bless.