Working with Volunteers
Working with volunteers can be one of the highlights of your ministry, it can also be one of the most stressful parts. Usually, the headache is not having enough. There are several books out on the subject and most ministry conventions have at least one workshop available. Everyone asks the question and everyone else has an answer. Each congregation uses and encourages their volunteers in different ways.
Some books that may help you (that I have) are:
Awesome Volunteers for Children's Ministry by Christine
Yount (GROUP)
Inviting Volunteers to Minister by Dan McCollam & Keith Betts (Zondervan)
I heard someone once say, the business world would never dream of treating their volunteers they way churches do. What a shame, but it's probably true. There are so many wonderful things you can do for volunteers such as personal notes, Bible verses, poems, treats, pictures of students or public acknowledgement. But you've got to do it. So, here's an idea.
Make yourself a volunteer calendar. Have a printed calendar page for everyone month for an entire year. Mark on the calendar the beginning and ending of each quarter, or whatever method you use. Now, go back and mark training sessions, a date to mail a new quarter letter, and thank you letter for the end. Also, add dates to leave surprise treats or cards in their rooms. Dates to mail reminders, thank-you's and so on. Make your calendar and use it.
Once a year, honor your teachers (and other volunteers if you want) as a group. We have had fun parties for our teachers. One year we had an Oscar Awards and another year we had a "Seed" planting party (see links below.)
Volunteer Appreciation Banquet Idea
Volunteer Appreciation Event Idea 2
Church
Volunteer Central
I signed up for GROUP's Church Volunteer Central just after it started up and within days, a representative had called to see if I needed anything. WOW!
You don't see service like that very often. So far, everything looks great.
The ability to offer volunteers online training is a dream come true! It's
short, quality and you know who's done what. Unfortunately, it still depends on
me getting things set up and going, but I will do better!