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Recruiting Volunteers for Christian Ministries
Effective recruitment of volunteer church and ministry workers depends on what you believe about
Why People Should Serve:Sometimes the reasons are legitimate but sometimes they are merely excuses. What reasons have you heard? A survey was taken on this site to see what top excuses the church at large is giving for not serving. Look at the results. Wrong Reasons: Some of these reasons are subtle. You may not acknowledge them as the reason but deep down it may be what you believe; it may be what is truly motivating you or others.
| Taken on This Site Reasons church leaders have heard the most for people not serving:
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If you are the recruiter and believe these reasons to be legitimate, then you will tend to use more manipulative or coercive techniques in recruiting people. If you dangle the right carrot or push the right buttons, then you can win people over. Or, if you threaten your disapproval, or even God's displeasure, then how can they refuse? Perhaps if you flatter them and applaud their abilities then they will need to live up to your estimation of them. ----Is any of this God-honoring?
If potential recruits believe in serving for these reasons, they may be serving for personal gain or to feel good about themselves. They may be serving to avoid someone's displeasure or feeling bad about themselves. They may be serving for appearance's sake. This person will tend to quit or get discouraged easier if they discover nothing is in it for them or what they are doing doesn't make them feel good. ---Is this the kind of person you really want?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:3-4)
Good Reasons: All of these reasons have some biblical basis. These things should matter to people. The question is if they should be the primary focus for serving.
- Accountability
- Appreciation to God
- Give glory to God
- Obedience
- Please God
If you are the recruiter and push any of these reasons, then, if you are not careful, you may be tempted to put people on guilt trips if they refuse. How can they not use the spiritual gifts and abilities God has given them? How can they say "no" to an opportunity to glorify God? How can they let God down? ---Is this condemnation following after God's heart of grace?
If potential recruits obsess on any of these reasons, then their service may likely be performance-based. In an attempt to do what is right and what is good, they may end up serving in their own strength. The focus can become on what "they" are doing to show appreciation or to give glory to God rather than what "He" is doing through them. ---Is this really how you want people to serve?
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
(1 Cor. 13:1-3)
The Best Reason:
- Love for God and love for people
If you are the recruiter and believe this is the ultimate reason for people to serve, then you will be more concerned with people's hearts than getting them to agree to fill a position. You will give people time to pray and examine their hearts. You will approach them on the relational level because you are modeling love yourself. You will avoid coercive, manipulative, and guilt-producing tactics. ---Isn't this a God-honoring way to recruit? Isn't this following after God's heart?
If the potential recruits want to serve because of love, then you have people who will be more likely to persevere even in difficult situations. You have people who are focusing on how their ministry helps others and not how it affects them personally. Consequently you then have people who are patient, people who are kind. You have people who do not envy, who do not boast, who are not proud. You have people who are not rude, who are not self-seeking, who are not easily angered, who keep no record of wrongs. You have people who do not delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. You have people who always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. You see, love never fails. (This is a paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a.) ---Isn't this the kind of person you really want? Isn't this how you want people to serve?
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
(Gal. 5:13-14)
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