Recruiting 101

Dealing with a shortage of church volunteers? You're not alone. The upheavals of recent years have changed the landscape (see story 3), but the basics of effective recruitment remain. The last newsletter looked at two of the three basics in the Recruiting 101 series:

Recruiting 101: Avoid This

Recruiting 101: Spell It Out

Here is number 3. And scroll down for some recruitment tips.

Recruiting 101: Invite Them

Recruitment is invitation. When you recruit, you're inviting people to consider an opportunity to serve. This perspective makes the process easier, more pleasant and more effective!

Just as with party Invitations, we want to start early and to extend a thoughtful, personalized invitation to the right people.

Who is on your invitation list? Don’t aim for friends who owe you a favor, or those who can’t say no. Think of people who’ve been gifted by God with the necessary skills; people who might enjoy this task. A great way to build your invitation list is to also ask 2-3 other people to suggest people they know who would be a good fit for the position. It pays to look outside the usual group of volunteers; many people never volunteer because they were never asked.

Yes, do extend a blanket invitation by an announcement in the church bulletin or newsletter. But don’t hold your breath. It occasionally works, but not often.

The best invitations are personal. Contact people one at a time. Explain the need, and share the job description. Tell why you’re inviting them. “Adrian said you have a heart for children;” “Ed told me you’ve led a similar project at work.” “I saw how well you organized the spaghetti dinner.” Ask them to think and pray about it and set a time to get back to them.

If they say no, . . . Read more

Recruitment Tips - a Baker's Dozen

A satisfied volunteer is the best recruiter. Have current volunteers invite their friends to join them in serving or ask them for names of people you can invite. If one of your Sunday school teachers is enthusiastic about the ministry and great at communicating, ask him or her to help with, or lead, recruitment for the ministry.
Write well. Your job description and recruitment invitations must first of all be honest, but they don’t have to be boring. Someone with writing or marketing skills can help you prepare interesting, engaging, and even humorous invitations.
Respond promptly and warmly. When someone responds to your invitation or when you hear that a new member is interested in your ministry area or when someone comes to you with a question, concern or a donation, the way you respond will either grow or squash their interest.
Let them work in their pajamas. . . . Read more

How DOES recent upheaval affect volunteer recruitment?

Church volunteer recruitment basics are still the basics. But things have changed, and its leadership that needs to evaluate and respond to the changes. Thoughts from what I'm seeing and reading:

A focus on mission and vision is critical. When we ask people to give their time to an activity, do they see that activity making an impact in people's lives? We give time when we see know it contributes to what matters most to us.
Leadership, resources and trust have grown in importance, as outlined in this article from a year ago, Covid's Impact on Volunteerism.
Rethinking everything is a healthy response to change, as I wrote in Could Less be More?
We do better together. Who can you connect with, share with, partner with? And while some mutual lamenting may occur, look for those who can move with you from bemoaning to responding! Share your thoughts with me and others by commenting on an article or by contacting me.

Is Time an Issue for You?

How your relationship with the 24 hours you're given every day? Is the day too short for all the plates you're juggling? Is it driven by others' expectations? Do you struggle to balance priorities? Are work and rest in a healthy balance?

We all face challenges in having a God-pleasing use of our time. The good news is we all benefit when we support and encourage each other in those struggles. "It's About Time" is a set of materials for small group gatherings (4-6 people for 6 one-hour sessions). Looking at time through the lens of serving God in all we do gives us both a new perspective and practical help.

Purchase "It's About Time" materials: The content (short videos, pdf Participant Guides and Leader's Guide) are available online for download or video streaming. Your $14.99 purchase allows unlimited use within your congregation. More details here, including session topics and a 2-min explanatory video.

Join an "It's About Time" class: I will lead the six sessions of "It's About Time" online beginning Thursday November 10 at 2pm Central Time (3pm Eastern; noon Pactific) and continuing roughly every other week into January. Sessions will be 75 to 90 minutes in length to allow both experiencing our own growth as participants, and also conversation about use in our churches. Maximum of 6 participants; cost $120; $50 for a second person from the same congregation. Includes access to all materials for use in your church. More details here.

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