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Home > Articles > Finding (and Keeping) Happy Volunteers
Finding (and Keeping) Happy Volunteers
Don't lose your volunteers to burnout.
LeAnn Campbell

Topics:Burnout, Calling, Delegation, Empowerment, Job descriptions, Recruiting, Spiritual gifts, Team building, Teams, Volunteer care, Volunteer recruitment, Volunteers
Filters:Church staff, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor, Pastoral care, Volunteer coordinator
Purpose:Discipleship
References:Ephesians 4:11-12, 1 Timothy 4:14, 2 Timothy 1:6
Date Added:July 12, 2007

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When a church makes the decision to become a multi-site church, every ministry is affected. This collection of ideas and advice will help make the transition easier.

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 2 of 3

Be honest with Jim when you ask him to teach, too. Do not assure him the class is no trouble, only to have him discover later that there are some unruly behaviors to deal with. By being honest with him ahead of time, he can plan how to approach the class.

3. Give appropriate orientation or training

By giving your volunteers the training they need, you will be helping them get off to a good start. Do not expect them to go into a new job "blind." They need to know what the job involves.

In the church preschool department where I teach, we like to invite prospective teachers and substitutes in to visit and help ahead of time. This gives them a chance to be acquainted with our routine, the children, teachers, and lesson materials. With this orientation to our department, most willingly agree to help when needed.

Orientation may be as easy as showing the worker where supplies are kept. If you have volunteered to make the coffee, your job is much easier if you know where to find coffee, filters, cups, cream, sugar, and spoons. Anything that can be done to make the volunteer's job easier will reduce his frustration. A list of printed instructions is helpful to anyone who has not done the job before.

Not every person that you approach will be a willing volunteer. Be prepared for some rejections, but do not take it personally. Instead, realize that people have many reasons for saying, "No." Maybe they just do not like to do volunteer work; maybe this is not the right time, or the right job, for them. You may never know their reasons, but it pays to be courteous and not pressure them. If you handle their rejection with the right attitude, they may answer the next request by saying, "Yes."

Aren't these the guidelines we want others to follow when they ask us to volunteer? By following them, we are doing what Jesus told us in Matthew 7:12 (NIV), "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the Prophets."

The Golden Rule. What better rule could we use for recruiting volunteers?