Growing Your Volunteer Base

The best advertising is word of mouth. That holds true in the marketplace and in any ministry area. Word of mouth recommendations are the most trusted source for accurate information and zeal. Most of us buy products, eat at restaurants, choose doctors, and even hair products based on a friend's recommendation.

Why is this important in the church? When your volunteers love their area of ministry, they will tell their friends. Thus, you have to be willing to ask yourself, "Do our volunteers love their ministry?"

If so, are you encouraging them to share stories about what they do with others in the church and even outside the church? When volunteers are happy and feel like they are helping accomplish the overall vision of the church - they will share their stories with others and invite others to experience what they love.

Here are six ways to assist happy volunteers to recruit others:

• At your next volunteer meeting, give everyone a small piece of paper and ask them, to write down three names of potential volunteers.
• Send an email to all your connections with a detailed description of the role you are looking to fill and ask for names of people that might fit the role or might be interested.
• Empower and encourage your volunteers to go after others.
• Have detailed descriptions of each volunteer role, outlining key expectations
• Celebrate the wins of volunteers and of the ministry regularly
• Pray with your current volunteer team for others to join the team

What other ways are you helping empower, encourage and enlist your current volunteer base to reach more potential volunteers?