[Ask Nick] – How to Get Volunteers to “Own It”
How do you get volunteers who are passionate, committed and take their role seriously?
Well, that’s the question we tackle in episode 6 of the “Ask Nick” Preteen Ministry Podcast.
Note: Listen to the podcast by clicking the play button on the bottom left of the below image.
I hope you like the above image I picked out. I think it represents the idea of leaders who really “own it”, don’t you? Not that leaders who own it have to act goofy and get dressed up. But the fact that these leaders obviously are “all in” even to the point of looking a bit crazy.
Hope you enjoy the episode!
Here’s a link to the fourfivesix website and podcast I mentioned in this episode:
Hope you enjoyed this week’s podcast!
– Nick
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3 Replies to “[Ask Nick] – How to Get Volunteers to “Own It””
Chris
Thank you for this podcast, I do see some advice. I am a volunteer youth pastor (full time-non paid with two other full time paying jobs). I have been at my church for 10 years and working with the same team of 6 people all 10 yrs (we have a great bond and I know thats not the norm). Within the last two years we had many life changes, parents aging, newborns, new marriages, adopting a baby, and work changes. I noticed my leaders getting burned out time commitments were changing. To fix this I changed from each leader teaching their own small group and preparing their lesson from my master to me teaching large group style and them just doing small group discussion, in which they thrive in. They seem to enjoy this more as there is no prep and still maintain connection with small groups. My concern is that instead of creating owners I have created renters. My leaders now don’t seem phazed if they miss a night, and I am lucky if one can make it early or stay late to hang out with the teens. Our ministry is very relational and I thrive off those connections, teens notice and desire them but the leaders can’t make it early and have to run home right at end of the nights. Rarely they can make it to events and this causes me to schedule activities not as much as before. I wouldn’t say they are burned out now, but have no desire to do more and cannot give up any more time to build relationships. We have had 3 teens graduate in the last year and I have been mentoring them to fill this gap, however leadership in the church and some parents feel they are “sticking around” and not moving on and think they should do college ministry for 2 yrs then return…which we have no college ministry. I also give the leaders a “out” each year before school starts and ask if they want to commit another year, which they do. One is in charge of fundrasing and camp deposits, one helps with games …even though hes not very good at it I try to give them things to claim more ownership. None are gifted with tech and band so I do that also, as well as clean the youth room always, set up, tear down sets, etc. I am hanging in there but what advice do you have for me as far as the aging leadership not able to commit like they used to. We have 30 youth and 6 adult…in our awana ministry we have 70 students with 25 leaders and it takes all them and more. I thought about changing nights to sunday vs wed and pastor thinking about cancelling adult bible study that night so he and others could help out….adults dont’ like that option. Any thoughts?
Nick Diliberto
Hi Chris, after 10 years I think you need a raise 🙂 Ha…just kidding.
Well first of all, great job staying in ministry for the long haul. Keep up the great work you’re doing!
Here are my thoughts:
About students who recently graduated – Recruit them as leaders with younger students. They’re young and probably have more time and energy to give than older leaders. Plus, gives you an opportunity to mentor them because now they’re leaders.
In reference to your question…
It’s good to have multiple levels of involvement for volunteers. So, what you now have is a good model to keep.
I would suggest to add another level of involvement. Something with a higher commitment. Try and move some of the current volunteers to that level. If they’re not willing, don’t push them. Just give them the opportunity.
Then, start recruiting some new leaders. Think of segments of your church to target that you haven’t yet targeted: 20 somethings, parents, empty nesters, singles, etc.
Then, go to where they are and give them an opportunity to serve. Both on your current level of commitment and the higher level of commitment. After some time on the low level commitment, try and move them up to a higher level.
Hope that helps 🙂
Chris
Thank you for the reply. I have placed the graduated seniors with the junior high small groups only and one does help me with the band and one with sound/tech. Thank you for the confirmation of using them. To those on the outside…ie other church members/leaders it looks as if they never aged out and they are just hanging around as one of the teens. Some parents stated this on their surveys. Do you feel I should communicate this to the church better or just not let it bother me. I don’t want to create disunity and would rather put my energy on other areas but welcome advise.
Regarding the levels of leadership, I find that very helpful. My fear is wording this to the current leaders and do not want to come across as “they aren’t doing enough”. I also don’t want them to feel I am replacing them. What would you say are descriptions of each level? Could you provide bullet points? The next level would be finding leaders who could invest in them with more time and showing up early, staying late, willing to hang with the teens etc. The “older” youth leaders are great small group leaders. My question is, Im not really sure a higher commitment would be those who can do this while the lower commitment just show up when they can and lead small groups. I know each ministry is different, just don’t know in my situation what would be the needs. Thanks again!
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