Why? Our most precious resource at small churches is our people. Most of what happens at a small church is led and executed by volunteers. How do we ensure we are calling, equipping, and mentoring volunteers in ways that ensure they will thrive?

Our tendency is to think that volunteers don’t need the same things paid staff need…job descriptions, training, feedback, evaluation…when really, they may need these things even more.

Examining Your Church Culture

• Are you open to newcomers and new ideas about how to do things? Be honest!
• How attached is your church to “the way we’ve always done it?”
• Are new volunteers welcome even if they don’t do things exactly the same way?

Recruiting volunteers

• Why the general “call for volunteers” doesn’t work very well, especially with ongoing volunteer commitments rather than one-time events
• How to make individual, personalized requests
• Learning about the spiritual gifts (and preferences) of your people
• Being specific about time commitment, authority, responsibility

Equipping volunteers

• Volunteer job descriptions
• Clarity about budget and funds
• Teams vs. committees vs. solo jobs; time-limited vs. time-unlimited jobs
• Commissioning–making this part of the liturgy

Coaching volunteers

• Helping problem solve obstacles
• Cheerleading when things are going well
• Public recognition and thanks

Knowing when to end

• Signs a volunteer is done/ ready to move on
• How to make graceful transitions
• What happens if there is no one new to take something on