Volunteer Training

by Kaley Ihfe

Romans 12:6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”

Churches couldn’t exist without volunteers. We call volunteering in church “being a part of the body,” and we expect all members to use their gifts for the good of the body.  

Current volunteer trends in the nonprofit sector are to give people opportunities to use their strengths, churches have been doing all along.  One of the best ways to keep volunteers is to make sure your volunteers serve in areas of their giftedness. This can happen in a variety of ways – for example, someone serving in children’s ministry may be gifted at working with children or they may be gifted at organization and help all the teachers have the materials they need.  

Yet, even when people are using their gifts, volunteer training is still important. No one wants to feel incompetent when they are helping, so make sure you give volunteers the tools they need. People need to know where items are that they might need, who to call if they have a question, and what resources are available to them. 

Volunteers also need to know the expectations. For example, if a volunteer is teaching a children’s class, they should know when to arrive, what time children begin to come, what to do when the children arrive, how long they are expected to teach, and what the dismissal procedures are. Do you wait for their parents? Can they leave on their own? Being clear about expectations is helpful to your volunteers! They want to help, but they also want to know what they are supposed to do.  

Finally, staff should always make sure to say “Thank you!” to volunteers. There are many different ways to do this: a note in the mail; an annual party for all church volunteers; a small gift. There are so many ways to say thank you; the most important thing is to make sure you say it.

Use these simple guidelines to equip and appreciate your volunteers. As always, HOPE Network is always available as a resource to help you strengthen your volunteers who serve your church family.