7 Deadly Sins of Inviting Volunteers to Serve

If you're like me I'm sure you've made a few of these mistakes along the way when it comes to inviting volunteers to serve. We might be surprised as to how many people never engage in serving simply because of the way we go about asking. Not to mention those that serve with wrong motives. No need to fret, help is on the way.

Sin #1: Expect announcements to get volunteers. An announcement may get a couple of volunteers, but usually those are the people who are volunteering anyway. People must be challenged individually. A challenge to everybody with an announcement is in fact a challenge to nobody.

Sin #2: Ask by yourself. The best people to help you invite volunteers are those who currently serve in that capacity. After all they are the ones who are most passionate about that particular ministry. So why not leverage their zeal and commitment to help invite others to serve?

Sin #3: Ask For, and Expect Long-Term Commitments. Just remember that short-term projects provide excellent “first dates”—they’re how you find your long-term volunteers. Give people the opportunity to try on your ministry to see how it fits. Short-term volunteers have the opportunity to catch your ministry’s vision as they work closely with a passionate leader. It also affords everyone an agreed upon exit door in case they're not a good fit for the job.

Sin #4: Assume That “No” Means “Never”. Sometimes a “no” only means that a prospective volunteer would rather do something other than the role you’ve described. Probe to find out what the person likes to do and what their gifts are, then see if there’s a match for that person in your (or someone else's) ministry.

Sin #5: Recruit Just Warm Bodies. It is easy to get in the mindset of just needing to fill slots and needs within your ministry..but you don't just want warm bodies, rather you want people with warm hearts toward your ministry. You want people whose gifts, skills and abilities are a good match for your ministry.

Sin #6: Recruit to the need. People don't want to hear a desperate plea of how you need volunteers. You don't recruit to the need, rather you recruit to the vision. Most people don't volunteer out of guilt because you tell them that your ministry team is in desperate need of volunteers. Rather most people volunteer because they are compelled by the vision. Paint and cast that compelling vision for your prospective volunteers.

Sin #7: Keep Leadership all to Yourself. A good leader should be thinking of replacing themselves. You should be developing future leadership within your ministry, not just hoarding all the leadership responsibility for yourself. One day God may call you to step out of your leadership role. When that day happens, who is going to replace you? Are you going to leave a vacuum?

Thanks to Bill Reichart for some of this helpful info.