{"id":31061,"date":"2021-06-23T11:27:02","date_gmt":"2021-06-23T15:27:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sharefaithblog.wpengine.com\/?p=31061"},"modified":"2021-06-29T13:18:18","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T17:18:18","slug":"how-to-get-kids-ministry-volunteers-that-want-to-help-every-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharefaith.com\/blog\/2021\/06\/how-to-get-kids-ministry-volunteers-that-want-to-help-every-week\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Kids Ministry Volunteers that Want to Help Every Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s be real. Though super fun and fulfilling, being a\u00a0leader or pastor in\u00a0Children\u2019s Ministry isn\u2019t always the easiest.\u00a0You\u2019re dealing with kids\u2019 behavior and attitudes, parents\u2019 involvement and concerns, and volunteers who frequently back out at the last minute.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But why are Kids Ministry volunteers\u00a0inconsistent\u00a0in the first place? It could be any number of things. Some volunteers are serving in the wrong ministry (or the wrong place within Kids Ministry). Some honestly already have too much on their plate and\u00a0they\u00a0overcommitted. Some simply haven\u2019t found their passion or calling yet.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether they dislike\u00a0all of\u00a0the excitement, color, and silliness of\u00a0Children\u2019s Ministry, or they feel ill-equipped to lead a group of\u00a0kids, let\u2019s talk about how to get consistent volunteers so your ministry can not only run smoothly but have the most Kingdom impact on the families you and your volunteers encounter each week.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A church-y response, but this is (or should be) an obvious solution. However, sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and business of ministry that we tend to put prayer on the back burner, when it really should be the forefront.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Set aside time to seek God about who He is leading to be a part of the ministry. Ask Him to highlight people that would be a good fit. And\u00a0continue\u00a0in prayer for those leaders that are already involved.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Passion\/Calling<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Volunteers will be more consistent if they have a passion for seeing children grow in their walk with God. If they feel called to make a difference in the lives of young people, they will be more inclined to continue serving, even when life gets\u00a0busy\u00a0or things come up. They\u2019ll make ministry a priority.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another important aspect is to have volunteers placed in the position they feel called to.\u00a0If someone loves pouring into the lives of fifth graders, don\u2019t place them in the nursery with crying babies. You will want to get to know your volunteers during the onboarding process to\u00a0discover\u00a0where they find the most passion and can be their best for that group of kiddos. Then, continue checking up on them throughout their time of service to find out if they are still enjoying the\u00a0position\u00a0they\u2019re in.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Utilize a\u00a0Scheduler<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Keep your lessons, volunteers, and calendar organized with a\u00a0<\/span>Kids Scheduler<\/span><\/a>\u00a0like the one from\u00a0<\/span>Sharefaith<\/span><\/a>. They will feel equipped to take on Sundays with access to the lessons ahead of time. Leaders will feel confident leading, rather than feeling overwhelmed and trying to figure it out the day-of. They\u2019ll also be able to see their schedule to know which days and services they\u2019re volunteering for. Have fewer no-shows because your team will know when, where, and what they\u2019ll be doing. You can even send email updates as reminders.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make it\u00a0Fun<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Not very many people will want to stick around a ministry if it feels like a job. Of course, ministry is work and it\u2019s time consuming, but when it\u2019s fun, it doesn\u2019t feel that way.\u00a0Children\u2019s Ministry seems to exist with automatic \u201cfun\u201d built right in, that\u2019s because, well, kids are fun! But think about ways to engage your volunteers that bring out the kid in them as well.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do games and activities specifically for volunteers. Have a monthly prize for\u00a0a\u00a0standout\u00a0leader. Host a competition between classes or services.\u00a0Church shouldn\u2019t be boring, and neither should\u00a0volunteering\u00a0to serve kids.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Connection<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Another way to encourage consistency is to continue to connect with those serving in your ministry. If they are onboarded, trained, and serving, don\u2019t think that they can just survive without any follow up.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Frequently reach out to volunteers. Check up on them. Pray for them. Ask how you can serve them as they serve the kids. They will want to stick around if they feel cared for, appreciated, and\u00a0poured into.\u00a0Utilizing the features in a\u00a0<\/span>Church Management System<\/span><\/a>, like emailing or texting the volunteers on a regular basis could make all the difference.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Community<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Many people desire to serve in ministry for the community. Simply only attending church on the weekend often still leaves members craving more connection. If you can create an environment where volunteers feel like they are\u00a0part of a community, they\u2019ll be more likely to consistently show up every week. They\u2019ll build friendships and accountability and feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More Than Teaching<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yes, most people think of Kids Ministry volunteering to simply include being a teacher or small group leader on Sundays.\u00a0<\/span>As you know, Children\u2019s Ministry consists of many administrative tasks along with prep work. Encourage those who might be burnt out on being in a classroom to help with checking families in. For the\u00a0administratively gifted folks, invite them to serve during the week with following up or organizing. There is also opportunity for lesson plan prep.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here’s What to Do Next…<\/h2>\n

Have a flourishing Kids Ministry by utilizing these tips to keep consistency with your volunteers. It will help them\u00a0do what they are called to do\u00a0and\u00a0in turn will\u00a0help the kids and families.\u00a0For more support with\u00a0mobilizing consistent volunteers, check out this\u00a0free eBook:\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0Practical Guide to Recruiting and Retaining\u00a0Kidmin Volunteers<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Download<\/a><\/span>