Volunteers

How do you get volunteers? If you're going to ask a loaded question, that's the one to ask. Mention the word "volunteers" to anyone working in a church and you'll most likely hear nervous laughter. We laugh because volunteers (or the lack thereof) tend to be the thorn in our sides. We never have enough volunteers, we never have the right volunteers, or we can't ever hang onto the "perfect" volunteers. It's always something.

I've found it's the opposite in Special Needs. The volunteers we have are the cream of the crop. We attract the most dedicated volunteers. I have volunteers who have been with this ministry since the beginning and they wouldn't think of leaving. Someone who is willing to put up with all kinds of craziness for an hour and a half every Sunday or every other Sunday would have to be dedicated to the cause in order to come back again and again.



Special Needs is the one area in which we have to be really picky about who can volunteer. I'm not saying that I've turned away help but we can't just take any willing body, stick them in a Special Needs classroom for an hour, and expect them to thrive. There are, however, certain people that are drawn to it. These are the ones who have a heart the size of Texas and will stick with you through thick and thin.

You have to remember to treat your volunteers well. While serving is an act of worship, it doesn't come natural to most. Remember to pamper your volunteers and make them feel like they're needed. There is not an activity that goes by without the support of volunteers but too often I'm too busy to let them know how precious they are to me. It's the little connections that keep them coming back. If you are genuinely interested in their lives and their families, they'll support you 110%.