Need more volunteers?

Try these seven suggestions when searching for people to serve in your ministry, from Thomas McKee’s book, The New Breed:  Understanding and Equipping the 21st Century Volunteer.

•Ask personally rather than rely on announcements. Remember that you’re not looking for someone to “volunteer”; you’re looking for someone to commit to a specific ministry position.

• Develop strategic recruiting partnerships.  Start the recruiting process by building your network of connections or developing a recruiting team. A larger circle of influence will result in a larger pool of prospects.

• Recruit short-term project teams. The more specific the time frame, the more people you’ll likely get to commit to a project. And short-term commitments might open the door to longer commitments in the future.

• Assume that a “no” means “not now,” or “not this position.” Think of a “no” as an open door to listen carefully to the reasons behind the “no.”  A “no” today may be a “yes” at a later time.

• Develop written responsibilities, or a position description, for each role. Don’t fill any position until you find the person who matches what you’re looking for.

• Recruit specific people for specific roles. Ask people to serve in significant areas of your ministry that matches what they love doing, their gift profile, and skill set.

• Hire staff who are equipping leaders – Your leadership team should be of people who know and live out the principles of inviting  and equipping volunteers for your mission.