RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Do you want your volunteers to stay with you long-term?  Here's the #1 reason volunteers go the distance on a team.

RELATIONSHIPS

Your volunteers will stay because they have built meaningful relationships with the people they serve with.  Relationships is the glue that will keep them on your team. 

How does this happen?

Place them with people who have the same passion as they do.
People build relationships with other people who have the same interests and passions as they do.  Make sure you place volunteers in their sweet spot.   When volunteers are in their sweet spot together, they will naturally begin to bond.

Tech guys will bond around their love for computers.  People who love babies will bond around babies.  People who love to lead kids in worship will bond around that.  People who love to lead small groups of kids will enjoy serving with other people who love to do the same.  Here's some of our volunteers who love serving preschoolers together.











Pray together every week. 
Take time to get volunteers together for prayer every week before they serve together.  Let them share prayer requests and pray for each other.  When a group of people pray together, their relationship is strengthened not only with God, but with each other as well.  I took this picture before a service.  It's a group of our volunteers who serve in pre-teens praying together.











Party with them outside of serving. 
Last weekend we had a Friday night party with some of our volunteers.  No agenda but fun.  Volunteers spent several hours hanging out together.  It's these types of events that can foster relationships that will last long-term which translates into volunteers staying long term.

Purposely create a family atmosphere. 
Be very intentional about creating a "family" atmosphere.  When volunteers feel they are part of a family that knows them, loves them and cares for them, they will stay.

Serving is about more than just teaching a class or changing a diaper or greeting a family or preparing a craft.  It's about doing life together.  It's about going through the good times and the bad times together.  It's about supporting one another.  It's about helping each other grow closer to Jesus.

Show me a group of volunteers that have been serving together long-term and I will show you a group of volunteers that have built solid relationships.

Your turn.  What are some things you do to foster relationships between your volunteers?  Share with us in the comment section below.

Someone said the reason people don't attend volunteer training is because they have been before.

We all grapple with how to make volunteer training effective.  How can we get people involved?  What format should we use?  How often should we hold training?  

As I have led volunteer training over the past 23 years, I've had some trainings that were a success and others that were a failure, some were home runs and some were strikeouts, some were memorable and some needed to be forgotten, some were energizing and some were blah.  

Through it all, I have found 7 key elements that make up effective volunteer training.  None of these stand alone.  It takes all 7 to make it rock.  Incorporate these into your training and you will see great results. 

Fun.
There should be laughter.  Lots of it.  This can be done through funny skits, games, jokes, etc.

Festive.
Make it a party.  Decorate.  Play music when they are arriving.  Give away door prizes.

Food.
Serving food shows you value them.  Plus it's hard for people to focus on training if their stomachs are growling.  Don't forget to feed their children as well if they are on site.

Family Friendly.  
People are busy.  Very busy.  Make it easy for them to attend the training.  Instead of asking them to be away from their family for another night, hold the training when they are already at church.  

Perhaps this means having it during service time.  Get a guest speaker for the children and hold the training when your volunteers would normally be serving.  Or hold it right after a service.  If you do have it on a week night, be mindful of the time.  People with kids have school the next day. 

Another option is to offer your training online.  People can watch at their convenience and then discuss the training in a pre-service huddle.

Focused.   
Be prepared.  Know exactly what you are going to cover.  Don't waste their time.  Make it worth their while. 

Faith Building.
We are called to make disciples.  The training should not only help them grow in their children's ministry skills, but in their faith as well.  One goal of the training should be to deepen their walk with Christ.

Felt.  There should be a moment that is memorable and leaves a tear in their eyes.  An "ah ha" moment.  Remind them of why they serve.  Encourage them.  Thank them for the difference they are making.  If possible, give them a small gift to express your appreciation.