How To Find The Right Volunteers (And Avoid The Rest)

Do any of the following statements resonate with you?  

“An event is closing in, and you know you do not have enough volunteers.”  “You take a hard look at your ministry and realize you need more volunteers.” 

Your pastor says, “You do not have enough adult volunteers, college volunteers, or student volunteers” “Your pastor wants to see you in his office…”

Maybe you, like me, have been in a position where you need more volunteers. Much of recruiting volunteers can be solved by this statement: Always ask and never stop asking. For years I struggled with recruiting volunteers… I finally came to the conclusion that I was not consistently asking adults.

1. Ask In Prayer Before You Ask In Person

Prayer works. God continues to blow me away with how He answers ALL of my prayers. If you have not started praying for volunteers, start praying today. I started in student ministry in 2005. I have had my fair share of mistakes in leading others, especially volunteers. Pray before you ask…it ensures Godly wisdom in your decision making.

2. Set Clear Guidelines And Expectations

If you do not clearly communicate the expectation, expect frustration on both ends of the relationship. Clear guidelines and expectations ensure the right volunteers in the right places. The best way to maintain guidelines and expectations is to put it on paper. If it is not written, it is not concrete.

3. Those Who Influence Aren’t Always Aware

The greatest leaders are not always aware of their leadership potential. It is our call to develop their leadership ability. If you invest in your leaders, they will invest in what you do. If you ignore your leaders, they will eventually ignore what you do and what you have to say. The greatest influencers are the ones who stay humble and hustle hard.

Finding volunteers is about selecting the “almost” leaders.

- Abe Haley

https://abehaley.com/