When it comes to recruiting volunteers, “need” is a nasty, four-letter word. When you tell your people that you need volunteers in a certain area, what they hear is that you haven’t done a thorough job of preparation and stewardship. It also conveys negativity — this must be an area no one wants to work in. Better to think this way: you never need a volunteer; instead, you have an opportunity for someone to serve.

One important way to mobilize people for ministry is to create first-serve opportunities within new ministry positions. The first step to doing this is to identify specific underserved needs in your church. Knowing you need to get more people involved in serving, both for their growth and for God’s glory, start thinking about where you would like new people to serve.

Where is there a need that’s not being met effectively? 

Where is there an opportunity to create something fresh and exciting? 

Examine these areas and weigh their potential as new ministry positions.

Note: clarity is key when it comes to mobilizing people for new opportunities. What exactly needs to be done? How many people do you need, and for how long? With that in mind, here are two things to do when mobilizing people for a need you’ve identified:

Create a one-time opportunity to meet that need. Your first step isn’t to create a whole new ministry; your first step is to create a one-time opportunity to meet the need.

Personally recruit people to serve. Your ability to personally recruit volunteers is one of the most underestimated tools in your arsenal.

Once you have identified a need, created a one-time opportunity to meet that need, and personally recruited people to serve, your next step is to cast the vision for continuing the new ministry. I go into all those next steps in my book Connect: How to Double Your Number of Volunteers. And today I have a special opportunity for you – to get a FREE 15-Page Executive Summary of my book ($19.95 value)!

Click here to grab your FREE copy now! (Ends Friday, August 15th!) 

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

P.S. – In this FREE summary, you’ll receive an overview of the step-by-step system of how to create a culture that attracts, keeps and grows volunteers. You will receive practical insight and tools you need to effectively involve people in ministry.  And you’ll learn how to help people see the importance of serving and how to continually raise up new volunteers.

Click here to get your FREE Executive Book Summary of Connect right now (a $19.95 value)

Hurry – this giveaway ends Friday, August 15th!

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.