Episode 173: Encouraging Volunteers Q&A with Paula Dannielle

Nick Blevins Family Ministry Podcast: Children | Youth | Students | NextGen

In this episode, we hear from Paula Dannielle on the power of creating a strategy for encouraging volunteers and creating space to do this every week. This is the third part of a six-session series from an online event called Volunteer Bootcamp, hosted by Ministry Boost.

Paula Dannielle

Connect with Paula on Instagram, and Twitter.

Volunteer Bootcamp

Get access to the full Volunteer Bootcamp sessions and notes here.

Links Mentioned in this Episode

Volunteer Bootcamp Webinar

Ideas for Encouraging Volunteers

Idea One: Make sure they are seen

• Each of them should be known by name
  • This may not be a staff member, but this could be a ministry lead, coach, etc.
• Get personal
  • During huddles, take time to celebrate
  • Acknowledge prayer requests
  • Be sure they are greeted when they arrive and when they leave and at least once during their service hour
• VALUE: People can feel invisible during the week with all the things we have to do; help them feel seen with something they don’t have to do, but they want to do.

Idea Two: Be sure they are known

• Each of your volunteers should be confident that you know they have a life outside of volunteering each weekend
  • Leaders need to know they are connected to the vision of the church, regardless of their circumstances
  • Take into consideration the unique “family makeup” of each volunteer
    • Single parents
    • Parents with multiple kids
    • Parents of kids with special needs
    • Health challenges
• VALUE: When volunteers know they are cared for outside of their time serving, they will feel encouraged and feel like part of a community and a team

Idea Three: Tell them/their Stories

• Tell stories as far back and as recent as possible
• Examples of ways to tell stories:
  • Storytelling wall with volunteers’ pictures on the wall
  • Stories of life transformation written on cards on the wall
  • Encourage stories with Communications Team; record these stories and share with people in the church
  • Use huddles
  • Use storyboards
  • Use social media – “Visual images paint 1,000 words”
  • Use names with stories
• VALUE: Stories give inspiration and tangible results that their work is not in vain, and stories encourage volunteer

Action Items

1. Do a 5 under 5 or What floats your boat
2. Write a note each week in 2020
3. Text 5 volunteers this week

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