Why You Should Be Telling Stories That Make Your Volunteers Cry

Jesus told stories that evoked emotion.  A prodigal son returns home, a Samaritan helps a man who was in desperate need, a widow gives all she had...just to name a few.

Emotional stories can infuse your volunteers with passion, vision, commitment, and encouragement.

How do you know if your story is evoking emotion?  You will see tears.  Some will hide it better than others, but you will see a good percentage of people reaching for a Kleenex.

Here's a couple of ways to bring strong emotional stories to your volunteers.

Share the emotional stories of kids and families whose lives have been impacted by the ministry.  Volunteers want to know that they matter and that what they do matters.  When you show them, you are bringing that affirmation.

Years ago, I had an appreciation dinner for some of our volunteers.  Unbeknownst to them, I had arranged for some of the kids they taught to show up at the dinner and surprise them.  At just the right moment, the kids came walking in and began to thank them for impacting their lives.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  Mission accomplished.

Share videos that evoke emotion.  Here's a couple of examples.





Do you ever see your volunteers cry?  Remember...the point is not the tears, but what the tears represent.