So you have plenty of volunteers for today. But what about tomorrow? next year? the decades to come? What can your church do today to ensure you’ll have plenty of volunteers in the future? Check out the following ideas, brainstorm additional suggestions with friends, and put the ideas into action.
- Whenever possible, make volunteer opportunities a family affair. Provide childcare for families with small children so that eager young families can easily participate. Plan activities and serve simple snacks to keep the little ones satisfied and happy as adults work.
- Plan specific volunteer opportunities for family units. To do this, make sure there are plenty of jobs that children can do independently or alongside a capable adult. One church planned a “Pick Up Litter” event, where even very young children could help as trash spotters, garbage bag dispensers, and snack servers. No matter what kind of project your church plans, make sure to support the children’s efforts, as well as those of the adults.
- Help children serve joyfully by equipping them with child-sized tools and equipment. Many hardware stores stock scaled-down rakes, hammers, brooms, and other tools, just the right size for your littlest volunteers. Equip your young volunteers with the right-sized tools, and they’ll recognize the high value you place on their volunteer participation.
Above all, encourage adults to exhibit a positive attitude about their volunteer experience. Children easily sense when an adult is not serving with joy. Appoint one person as the volunteer coordinator for your project and insist that all complaints or concerns come directly to that person. Keep in mind that words spoken today will have a lasting impression on your littlest volunteers.
As you plan volunteer opportunities, keep an eye toward the future. Intentionally plan ways to include children, teach them necessary skills, and most of all, encourage heartfelt joy in volunteering.
If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 4:11
