Take Time to Keep . . . The Volunteers You Have!

When it comes to recruiting, your ministry will benefit the most, and be the strongest, when you keep the volunteers you have. When you have volunteers who serve long-term, your ministry - and the children, families and volunteers, all benefit in the following ways . . .  

• It is a wonderful thing when a teacher is the same person in each grade for all the children in a family! 
• When your volunteers return year after year you are able to build upon the training, not just repeat the same training every year. 
• Families are able to build relationships with the teachers.
• Your ministry is not in a constant state of recruiting.
• The volunteers become people who have experience teaching the children and using your curriculum.

These are just a few of the many benefits in keeping the volunteers you have.

So, how do you do this? Consider the following ideas . . . 

• Pray. Be sure you pray for the volunteers you have. Consider finding prayer support partners who team up with each volunteer to support them individually in prayer.
• Get to know them. If someone is volunteering their time to serve, you can get to know them.
• Provide the resources they need.
• Provide training so they feel equipped.
• Be generous - and sincere - in your appreciation.
• Have the adult class they would be part of if they were not serving, "adopt" them - this means someone takes notes of what they are studying each week and makes sure the volunteer receives them, communicates prayer requests and makes sure they know about get-togethers.
• Pray.

These are just a few of the ways to keep the volunteers you have, but whatever you decide to do, be sure you support and encourage the volunteers you have, so you are able to keep them year after year!