Human resources might not quickly come to mind when thinking about ministry.

However, HR is essential because, at its core, human resources is about managing and supporting the most critical asset in any organization: PEOPLE. In ministry, these people are your staff, volunteers, and attendees. Without the right approach to managing them, even the best mission will struggle to succeed.

In churches, HR principles include some paperwork and policies, but we’re equally concerned with recruiting, training, and retaining people who will help carry the mission forward.

The Hardest Part: Getting People Out of Their Seats

What is the biggest challenge in recruiting volunteers?

For years (at least in my church leadership space), training and retaining were my focus. Not that we didn’t recruit, but recruitment seemed easier. Christianity was cultural, and people at church were more apt to do what church people did. AKA: Volunteer.

This is no longer the case. It’s more challenging than ever before to get people to commit.

The hardest part is breaking that inertia—getting them to step out of their seats and into a serving role for the first time. 

Inspiring that first step demands focus and a plan.

Create Easy On-Ramps

I cover this topic at length in my new book, The Ministry MBA. For now, let’s consider one specific solution.

To overcome our recruiting challenge, you need plenty of on-ramps for non-volunteers. Initial on-ramps must give people a taste of serving without the commitment. Don’t ask for long-term commitments right away. Instead, provide one-time, low-risk opportunities for people to experience serving without feeling trapped.

Here’s how you can create those on-ramps:

1. Rethink Your Volunteer Opportunities

Too many churches have dozens of short-term, low- or no-commitment volunteer opportunities that are always filled by the same people who always volunteer. Start thinking about your volunteer roles differently. Rather than categorize them by ministry, categorize them by commitment length. For instance, checking students in for a weekend retreat is a short, one-moment opportunity.

Make a list of everything you do at your church that requires a volunteer but doesn’t require a commitment.

Things like collecting food or backpacks, signing in students for retreats, and special events are all perfect low- and no-commitment opportunities.

2. Ask Non-Volunteers to Step Into These Opportunities

Once you have a list of low- to no-commitment volunteer opportunities, use your database to identify all your active adults who are not currently volunteering and specifically ask them to step in. If you make a general announcement, any guesses as to who will fill the spots? Yes, the same people who always do.

Use email to segment and ask these non-volunteers to sign up for this easy moment.

3. Make Volunteering FUN

Once you fill your spots with non-volunteers, ensure their experience is special. Be sure to over-communicate times, dates, and any other expectations. When they arrive, thank them, feed them, and give them a free t-shirt. Throughout their time serving, thank them and make sure they have everything they need to succeed.

4. Follow Up Well

When the volunteer moment ends, thank them as they leave and use an email nurture sequence to highlight how their time connects to the broader mission of their church. The goal is to help these non-volunteers feel their time was valuable.

5. Make a Specific Next Step Ask

Finally, make a specific ask. Follow up their first step with an opportunity to take a second step that only requires slightly more commitment. Some people may be willing to join your guest services or hospitality team. Maybe they would work in the parking lot. Again, we want to invite them into low-commitment roles.

Conclusion: Get Your Volunteer Strategy Right

Recruiting volunteers is no small task, especially in today’s fast-paced and more uncommitted world. But by creating easy entry points, focusing on connecting roles to the mission, and celebrating your volunteers well, you can build a thriving volunteer base that will help move your ministry forward.

One More Thing…

This article may help, too:

• How to Create Effective On-Ramps for Church Engagement
• The Secret Sauce of Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

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