Enlisting & Keeping Volunteers

(Submitted by Randy Johnson)

THREE BASIC CRITERIA... We can train folks to teach or to do other things, but they must have some basic characteristics in order to make training worthwhile. Dr. Charles A. Tidwell has stated that there are three major criteria for Youth Leaders:

1. Are they faithful - to the Lord, to their church, to themselves. True to God’s Word and true to their word. 
2. Are they willing - to love, to serve, to be trained, to prepare, to grow, to cooperate, to pay the price.
3. Are they capable - capable of relating, capable of loving, capable of serving, capable of learning, capable of making commitments? 

SUCCESSFUL VOLUNTEERS HAVE… 

1. Genuine love for people - acceptance, genuine friendships and relationships, take the role of a mature adult. 
2. Sense of God's leadership and calling 
3. A growing relationship with God - asked about in recruiting and periodically in the ongoing training 
4. A special patience and flexibility 
5. Time to be available for ministry & preparation 
6. A team player approach 
7. An aptitude for commitment and endurance 
8. Ability to teach and equip youth 

ENLISTING QUALITY YOUTH LEADERS BY...

1. Praying for God’s Guidance and Opportunity. 
2. Keeping, Cultivating, and Updating a List of Potential Workers 
3. Working through the Proper Channels 
4. Public Promotion and/or Survey 
5. Providing Potential Leader Training 
6. Personal Interview with Shared Expectations 

KEEPING QUALITY YOUTH LEADERS BY...
“Treating Them Right”

1. Making Expectations Clear 
2. Asking for a Commitment 
3. Providing Regular Training Opportunities 
4. Encouraging Regular Planning and Evaluation 
5. Providing On-Going Encouragement and Affirmation 
6. Treating Them as a Partner in Ministry 
7. Seeking to Meet Their Needs 

Randy Johnson has 36 years of youth ministry experience in the local church. For the past 26 years he has served as the Student Minister at the First Baptist Church of Richardson, Texas. He and his wife, Carol, have two adult daughters.