Building Your Volunteer Team

I remember finishing seminary and starting my first congregational ministry in Christian Education. I had big dreams of thriving programs, close-knit volunteers, kids and youth who loved church and were there all the time, and all kinds of terrific opportunities that would be offered. While many of those things happened in some way at some point, the road is not always easy, especially when working with volunteers.

There are many potential points of conflict and tension within your team of volunteers and helpers – those who have been part of the church their whole lives and those who are new, those who are new to volunteering in CE programs and those who are veterans, those who are old and those who are young and want different approaches, those who are more on the conservative side theologically vs. those who are more liberal, those who are parents or grandparents and those who are single, and those who work full-time and those who don’t work outside the home at all (to name a few).

If we are not careful in how we steer the team as coordinators and staff, there is huge potential for the wheels to come off quickly, even before the programs start back up for fall. How do you avoid the pitfalls that can let the air out of the dreams you have for your team? Think about the following:

1. Be very aware of language. Use words like team, leaders, faith nurturers and partners in ministry more often than workers, staff and helpers. Use words that paint the vision for what you hope will happen in these ministries and which will empower and motivate your volunteers. Focus on the commonalities they all share – a faith journey, a love for kids and youth, a desire to share their gifts.

2. Offer orientation and training that equips everyone on your team, offering something new to the veterans while being accessible to the newbies. This can be a real challenge, so take the time to get to know your people before the training happens so that you can target what you share and how. Affirm the gifts that everyone brings to the table, collectively and individually, and help volunteers discover these gifts in each other through guided conversation in twos, threes or larger small groups.

3. Know what you can offer your team and follow through. Don’t make promises that you can’t keep in terms of your time and availability, providing thank you treats regularly, or special events or trips to workshops. That said, you need to make these people a priority and find tangible ways that you can connect with them, back them up and nurture them within your busy schedule.

4. Set the standard high in terms of expectations of how volunteers will communicate with each other and with you. This in turn raises the standard for participant behaviour. Emphasize creating safe space for everyone, valuing of everyone, supporting everyone and seeing Christ in everyone. Model respect for all roles especially the clean up team. Also model positive problem solving and conflict resolution.

5. Be wise and strategic in who you partner with who. Know your people well and pray about what combinations will help people to reach their potential as leaders. Value the specific gifts people have, but be aware of not letting them get stuck in ruts. Talk regularly with your volunteers so you know their concerns, growth edges and passions.

While the work that goes into finding, building up and supporting your volunteers can seem overwhelming at times, so can the positive results of that work in terms of changed lives, children and youth who catch the faith and inspire others, and the amazing feeling of being part of a team all pulling together out of love for God. Sometimes, there just isn’t anything better than when that synergy happens and God shows up in a big way.

Never forget the tremendous gift and privilege it is to serve and the amazing sacrifices that your leaders make so that it all happens. May God inspire you and uphold you as you seek to inspire this year’s team of leaders as the journey begins once more.