How to Build a Culture of Volunteering

Every church needs a team of volunteers to help with tasks like childcare, hospitality, setup/teardown, worship, and more. But it’s not so simple to actually build a reliable team of people who will freely give their time and effort to your church community. Using a church management software can certainly help you organize volunteers…but how do you get people to commit to volunteering in the first place? 

In the following article, we’ll take a look at how you can build a strong culture of volunteering at your church community. 

What is a Culture of Volunteering?

What’s the difference between a culture of volunteering and an obligation to volunteer?

A culture of volunteering makes it fun and meaningful to volunteer…and an obligation to volunteer makes it feel like drudgery. 

In the verse below, the Apostle Paul is referring to financial generosity. But we can apply the same principle to the giving of our time and energy. 

​​Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Volunteering should start from the heart. But in a culture where time is almost more valuable than money, it can be difficult to motivate people to give up their free time–especially on the weekends. 

A culture of volunteering builds excitement, motivation and buy-in around the idea of serving on a volunteer team at church. Most importantly, a culture of volunteering transforms the idea of church–church members are no longer spectators at weekend services, but key participants that help to host the presence of God and welcome visitors into the community.  

Here’s how to help build a culture of volunteering at your church. 

7 Ways to Build a Culture of Volunteering

1. Start with a clear vision and mission.

Volunteering can often feel like drudgery, especially when you’re dealing with menial tasks like stacking chairs, licking envelopes, or changing diapers. That’s why it’s so important to give your volunteers a big-picture vision for why they should surrender their free time. 

Most churches have some sort of modified version of the following mission: Advance the Kingdom of God, Teach Biblical Truth, Preach the Gospel, and Love People. When you make it clear to your church members that participating in weekend services is not really about serving your leadership team, but about serving the purposes and mission of God, you give them a compelling reason to volunteer.

2. Use a church management software. 

As mentioned above, a church management software can help you stay organized with volunteer sign-up and scheduling. If you’re disorganized, your volunteers can quickly get frustrated. Their time and commitment is valuable, and you need digital tools that make it simple for them to sign up for various tasks, schedule their time, and check in with you. 

The best church management systems will send your volunteers automated messages before their scheduled volunteer slots so that it’s simple and convenient for them to stay in the know. 

3. Recruit in a variety of ways.

Recruiting volunteers is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It's important to use a variety of methods to reach potential volunteers. This can include announcements during church services, social media posts, emails, flyers, and personal invitations. Make sure to tailor your message to the specific group you are trying to reach. For example, if you are recruiting for a youth program, focus on social media and personal invitations to parents and teenagers.

4. Provide training and support.

Once you have recruited volunteers, it's important to provide them with training and support for their specific role. That might include training on how to teach kid’s ministry curriculum, training on how to make and serve coffee for the hospitality team, or tech training for helping to run audio, video, and livestreaming at weekend services. 

It's also important to provide ongoing support and feedback, so volunteers know they are appreciated and valued.

5. Create a sense of community.

One of the primary reasons that someone might volunteer at your church is to make friends and form deeper connections. That being said, building a strong volunteer team means fostering a sense of community and connection among your volunteers. This can include regular volunteer meetings or social events, as well as opportunities for volunteers to connect outside of their role. Encourage volunteers to share their ideas and feedback, and make sure they feel like they are part of a team.

6. Recognize and appreciate your volunteers.

Don’t forget to show your appreciation to your volunteers! Make sure they know they are valued and that their contributions are making a difference. This can include simple gestures like thank you notes, public recognition during church services, or special events with catered meals to honor your volunteers.

7. Provide group communication. 

Give your volunteers an easy way to communicate with each other. Using the Groups feature in Breeze church management software, you can create separate Groups for different kinds of volunteers. That means your children’s workers, hospitality team, and setup/teardown volunteers all have their own unique channel to give each other updates and develop deeper friendships. 

Building a volunteer team in a church takes time, effort, and a commitment to your mission and values. By following these tips and strategies, you can create a strong and motivated team of volunteers who are dedicated to making a difference in your community. Remember to provide training and support, create a sense of community, and recognize and appreciate your volunteers. With these strategies in place, you can build a volunteer team that will help your church bring people into a deeper relationship with Jesus!