{"id":6489,"date":"2011-05-16T08:00:13","date_gmt":"2011-05-16T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=6489"},"modified":"2026-07-16T09:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T13:56:07","slug":"volunteers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/volunteers.htm","title":{"rendered":"Why Can’t the Church Recruit Volunteers?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Volunteering\"Have you noticed how many people are volunteering these days in their communities or even traveling to assist in far away disaster areas?<\/div>\n
Why is the church having such a difficult time recruiting<\/a>?<\/div>\n

For years we have complained that people are too busy to serve.\u00a0 Is it that they are too busy or that they are investing their time and efforts elsewhere?\u00a0 I have long contended that people find the time to do what they feel is important<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 Maybe we need to start asking ourselves why people don’t value serving in the church enough to make it a priority.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong> Why isn’t serving God in and through the church perceived as important, as a worthy investment of their time?<\/p>\n

I believe part of the reason is that for too long the church (generally speaking) has acted like a second rate organization, slow to change, and quick to minimize both the service and servant.<\/p>\n

Perhaps we’re not doing this intentionally but it happens when we fail to invest adequate planning and hence lack excellence in what we do.\u00a0 It happens when we expect people to do things the way they have always been done and aren’t willing to accommodate to their needs and interests.\u00a0 It happens when we recruit in the church parking lot or use guilt or manipulative tactics.\u00a0 And, it\u00a0happens when we do not adequately train people for ministry or fail to say “thank you.”\u00a0 It happens!<\/p>\n

And where local churches are trying to change, people still have perceptions of what the church has been like and so they continue to move cautiously.<\/p>\n

Negative Perceptions That Go Into the Problem of Recruiting Volunteers<\/h2>\n

Here are some problem areas responsible for such perceptions and suggestions for what we need to do to start changing perceptions about volunteering in the church:<\/p>\n

— little value perceived in serving<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to promote a cause worth their involvement. Cast a vision for serving.\u00a0 Promote the difference they can make for eternity.<\/p>\n

— narrow or inward scope<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to be more outwardly focused, to make a difference in the world around us.\u00a0 Build up the saints to grab hold of the big picture.\u00a0 Communicate the truth of the Gospel in non-verbal, as well as verbal, means.\u00a0 Feed the hungry, help the poor, assist those in crisis … in Jesus’ name.\u00a0 People should not feel guilty for serving in their communities.\u00a0 Rather, we should come along side of them with encouragement and resources.<\/p>\n

— shabby recruitment efforts<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to ramp up our efforts.\u00a0 Invest time and effort into promoting, recruiting, and placing people in ministry.\u00a0 Don’t rely on announcements in the bulletin or from the pulpit.\u00a0 Take time to personally talk with people in a non-rushed setting.<\/p>\n

— limited choices in how to serve\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to think outside of the box.\u00a0 Tap into people’s gifting, passions, and availability.\u00a0 Be willing to change.\u00a0 Offer short-term as well as long-term opportunities for serving, low or no prep as well as higher preparation tasks, behind-the-scenes as well as upfront settings, inside the walls of the church as well as out in the community, etc.<\/p>\n

— minimal assistance given in serving<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to come along side of people.\u00a0 Let people know how you will train, support, provide materials, and encourage them and then follow through.<\/p>\n

— low expectations in serving\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to raise the bar.\u00a0 Build in some accountability, along with assistance to do better.\u00a0 Where little is expected, little is given.<\/p>\n

— minimal expressions of affirmation and appreciation<\/strong><\/p>\n

We need to demonstrate authentic body life.\u00a0 Let people know how much they are valued.\u00a0 Everybody has a part.\u00a0 We need each other.\u00a0 Don’t take people for granted.<\/p>\n

Do you want people to get more involved in the church?\u00a0 Ask what kind of perceptions they might have about serving in your church.\u00a0 Then, under God’s guidance, begin the process of change.<\/p>\n

More on Recruitment:<\/p>\n

How God accomplishes His work<\/a><\/div>\n
Why people should serve<\/a><\/div>\n
How to motivate people<\/a><\/div>\n
For More on Recruitment and Other Staffing Issues, Go To: Staffing Ministry Manual<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you noticed how many people are volunteering these days in their communities or even traveling to assist in far away disaster areas? Why is the church having such a difficult time recruiting? Continue reading Why Can’t the Church Recruit Volunteers?<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-staffing-recruitment"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t