3 Elements of a Thriving Volunteer Community
Kidmin Accelerator
It was a rainy weekday morning outside our neighborhood elementary school. A police officer was dutifully directing the traffic jam that is the reality of suburban elementary schools all across the United States.
My wife and I happened to be in the car together, dropping off our 1st grader.
“He doesn’t look thrilled,” my wife said.
“He probably isn’t,” I replied. “It’s raining, and the cars are trying to edge their way forward before he tells them to. Besides, I doubt anyone goes into law enforcement to direct elementary school traffic.”
“Good point,” she said.
The same is probably true of you. I doubt you went into children’s ministry because of your love for filling out spreadsheets every week. Yet sometimes it may feel like no matter how many people said “yes” to serving, you cannot seem to fill those slots.
Getting the “yes” to serving is the necessary first step. To get people into a consistent place of service, you need a thriving volunteer community.
A thriving volunteer community is essential to any sustainable church ministry. It helps you to move beyond just meeting the basic safety needs of the children to building relationships with the children, their parents, and each other.
As the children’s ministry leader, you are the primary community leader. You don’t build the community, that is the work of the Holy Spirit. However, God uses you to set the tone of the community for those in your ministry.
So what do you need to do to help your volunteers feel a part of a thriving community? Here are three key elements:
Purpose (Think: “This Is My Cause.”)
People join a physical community because it resonates with the kind of life they want to live. A person who likes the urban lifestyle of a city is different from a person who prefers the countryside.
The same is true for your ministry. A clear vision for your ministry will resonate with those who serve with you. Those who serve with you will see it as “their cause” and “their ministry,” which is what you want.
However, just like not all communities are a fit for all people, not everyone will resonate with your cause. That is fine. You don’t want everyone. You want the right “ones.”
Action Point:
To know if you are communicating your vision clearly, ask a few people, “What are we trying to do here?” Their answers will tell you how well you are doing.
Connection (Think: “These Are My People.”)
Connection happens when you create intentional points of gathering. Without connection, a person could serve in your ministry for years and yet fail to develop any meaningful and life-giving relationships.
The demands of the service are too much for your team to connect while serving. It is up to you to create “points of convergence” where people can gather, chat, and plant the seeds of a relationship that will extend beyond their service.
One great way to create a point of convergence is over food. While food is a cost and can be difficult at times, the connection that happens around a bagel and coffee yields far more in the way of personal relationships.
Action Point
Look for points of convergence in your church where you can encourage your volunteers to connect.
Growth (Think: “This Is My Path.”)
The service of others brings spiritual growth in the servant. However, a person may not be aware of how far they have come. You need to help the members of your volunteer community see what God is doing through them.
Let that once-hesitant teacher know how much the kids enjoy their teaching. Did you see someone encouraging or praying for a child? Let them know what that means you to you, the child, and their parents.
Celebrate milestones and share stories. Did someone take an extra step, one that may have cost them in some way, to help someone? Make sure to appreciate them in front of the group. Is someone struggling to connect with the children? Privately encourage them that God is using them.
Action Point
Choose one person this week to either appreciate publicly or encourage privately.
Something Else To Consider
Just like building a physical community cannot happen overnight, building a thriving volunteer community takes time and effort. Don’t become discouraged if it doesn’t happen right away. Be patient, prayerful, and set the tone God wants for your ministry. He will do the rest.
I recently talked about a thriving volunteer community at the 2020 Children’s Pastors Conference hosted by INCM as well as the Kid’s Ministry Collective Podcast with Tom Bump.
Kidmin Accelerator explores creative, innovative, and practical ideas that help Children’s Ministry Leaders.
