Have you ever paid for a cup of coffee and noticed that the cashier is clearly dissatisfied with his job? Maybe he drew the short stick and got stuck with the cash register, or maybe he’s filling in on what was supposed to be his day off. Either way, the experience is different from interacting with someone who is enthusiastic about serving. The same is true for our volunteer teams.
When a guest walks into our church, I want them to feel welcomed, expected, and right at home. If Billy, the door greeter, can’t get his mind off of how much he would rather be serving behind the scenes, chances are high that his engagement with our guests is going to be far from focused or impassioned. As you begin to place volunteers in their sweet spots, you will see the culture you want and the environment you have begin to mesh. Here are three simple ways to make sure your volunteers are serving in their sweet spots:
It Starts with Orientation A new volunteer orientation shouldn’t be a one-way, long-winded lecture. Don’t miss the opportunity to get to know your volunteers and ask key questions. Find out why they want to serve, their specific interests and their preferences. If we are solely focused on filling a roster and not asking the right questions, we can’t lead volunteers to serving in a fulfilling way.
Keep the Conversation Going After new volunteers have observed the role they are interested in, and they have served in that role for three weeks, it’s time for a check-up. The goal here is to affirm the volunteer for their wins, and to ask open-ended questions about their unique place in the mission of your team. For example:
Macy, you have done such an incredible job welcoming and making each of our guests feel at home. I really love the way you give every single kid a fist bump. I wanted to check in and see how you are enjoying being a greeter. Do you still feel comfortable serving in this role, or would you like to explore some other areas on the team?
I want my volunteers to understand that the role they started serving in doesn’t have to be permanent, and there is flexibility in where or how they serve with each season of their lives.
Puzzle Pieces I get it. Sometimes volunteers get sick, have an emergency, or just don’t show up. In those moments, it’s easy to start moving people around to make sure you have great coverage. Don’t make the mistake of thinking volunteers are like checkers–they’re not always as interchangeable as we might want them to be. Instead, think of each volunteer as a puzzle piece where the right placement can create a healthy, fun, and mission-focused environment. I would rather have a volunteer who is excited about their role and leaning into the mission than a volunteer who is serving out of obligation and a sense of necessity.
God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. Romans 12:6 NLT
My team exists to create a welcoming environment so people will be open to hearing the truth of God’s word. My passion as a pastor is to lead my volunteers closer to Jesus. That means I have to see them as individuals, rather than one big team. I believe when people are serving with the gifts God has uniquely given them, not only will it create a mission-minded culture, but it allows me to better lead them to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Jacob White - Host Team Pastor
