The following post was written by Paul Turner, specialist for Lifeway Students. Paul works with World Changers and P2 Missions.
Volunteers are the backbone of your ministry. Many times they are under appreciated, over worked, and easily forgotten. They work regular jobs, have families of their own, get stretched thin and most of the time still do all they can to attend everything that is going on in student ministry.
Here are a few things that might help you help them be successful in ministry:
- Never assume that they know what you are thinking. Communicate clearly the mission and objectives of their particular role. There is a good chance that you will not be guilty of over communicating to them
- Encourage them every time you have a conversation with them. Even in a crucial conversation, be sure to thank them for something they do that is correct
- Pray for them. Daily. Put them on your personal prayer list and pray for them. Ask them how you can best pray for them. And then follow up with them about their requests
- Resource them well. Never use a curriculum that you yourself do not know how to use and provide ongoing training for your leaders who are teaching students. Training can come in many forms
- Ministry Grid and other online training is available. Take advantage of many different free and minimal cost training websites
- Be aware of local association or statewide training and make that training available to volunteers
- Help scholarship your volunteers to attend some of the larger training conferences
- Do training for your own leaders at your church
- Training should be engaging, challenging, equipping and encouraging
- Make sure the training is thought out and prepared in advance. Don’t just give them “something” but provide them helpful resources
- Share recent student culture information
- Make the training practical. Help them make a difference now
- Schedule these training opportunities at a time that is most convenient for your volunteers. Many times Sunday afternoons after church can be a good time. Provide lunch and good training.
- Training needs to be provided many different ways
- Send a weekly, teaching tip text
- Sit in front of your computer and do a short video of ways volunteers can interact with their students on a weekly basis
- Post links to training videos on your church’s or student ministry’s website
- Have a monthly or at minimum quarterly meeting with all of your volunteers to remind them of the purpose and objectives of student ministry.
- Refuse to assume that they will “figure it out on their own”. It is important that you continue to be involved in the lives of your volunteers. Model for them how you want them to interact with and be involved in the lives of their students
- Have fun with your volunteers!
