What It Takes to Recruit Seasoned Volunteers for Kidmin

Someone once asked this question on childrensministry.com: We have an older congregation and frequently hear “I taught Sunday school for 30 years, I have done my time.” How do we recruit older, seasoned volunteers to come back and get reinvested in the ministry?

To answer this person, we dug into our archives and found the chart below. Read on for four insights and techniques, based in the chart’s results, to tap into what motivates seasoned volunteers to sign up for your ministry.

Insight 1:

Give older and experienced volunteers a clear vision of your ministry. If you want seasoned volunteers to give of their valuable time, help them understand what your vision is for radically impacting the next generation for Christ.

Insight 2:

Make your children’s ministry more than babysitting. When you understand that your children’s ministry is way more than babysitting, you’ll see your ministry — and church — grow!

Insight 3:

Never stop learning and growing to create an amazing ministry. Older adults have been in the church, workplace, and organizations for many years. They can spot “going through the motions” in a heartbeat. They will respect you — and your ministry — if you demonstrate a heart for learning and improving. It shows you’re genuinely invested and will inspire them toward a similar commitment.

Insight 4:

Make every communication your very best possible. State needs and expectations clearly, excitedly share your ministry vision, and invite potential volunteers into the ministry culture you’re cultivating. When you do that, you’ll make your children’s ministry hard to resist for prospective volunteers who need to believe in your cause before they’ll sign up.

Want more volunteer management ideas? Check out these articles!