Recruiting volunteers is a huge concern in churches. Our first two articles focuse on retaining them. The better we retain, the fewer we need to recruit!
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A Good Start: Orientation and Training
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 At a job interview, or on a first date, you know the first impression is important. It’s just as important if you want to retain that new volunteer you just recruited. What will their first impression be of the task you’ve recruited them to do?
A volunteer once told me about her first experience serving at our church, helping with Vacation Bible School snacks. The women she worked with were friendly, but more with each other than with her. They asked her to deliver the snacks to the rooms, but she had to ask them for directions to each room. They asked her to get more paper goods from the basement storeroom and that was hard to find, too. I was surprised she stuck it out all week, and more surprised that she ever volunteered again. (Read more)
I clearly remember the day I uncovered three little words with a huge impact on retaining volunteers.
I was talking to a man who set up coffee and donuts every Sunday. He was new to that ministry, so I asked, “How’s it going?†His answer was a cheerful “Fine . . . great . . .,†but after a bit he mentioned it would be simpler if he didn’t have to hunt down the key to the supply cabinet each week . . . (Read more)
 In 2016, I had the privilege of leading a team that, with the help of our local volunteerism center, HandsOn Suburban Chicago, took our church through the rigorous Service Enterprise certification process. A few weeks ago we were notified that we were successful in achieving that certification. More info here. I highly recommend the process to churches that have access to it, and are ready for it. Contact me for more info. Comparing ourselves to standards in order to improve volunteer engagement can only enhance our commitment and ability to work together as our Lord's church in His mission.
The budget of our church’s volunteer program got a substantial bump this year. Thankfully, we are now able to hire a full-time coordinator. What are the most important parts of a volunteer program that we should shift to her, the expert? — from Alison in Missouri
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