Potential Volunteers

Bonny Mulder-Behnia, the family ministries pastor at Rosewood CRC in Bellflower, Calif., says that the key to calling volunteers is to “find people who love God and love kids; then equip them with the skills they need to lead a group of children.” That means looking beyond the professional teachers and parents in your church and inviting singles, couples, young adults, older adults, grandparents, and teens to join the team.

Think creatively about the gifts and skills you see in members of your faith community and look for ways they can use their gifts in your ministry. Tara might not be a teacher, but she’s a great musician—could she play the guitar for worship at the beginning of Sunday school? Kendra’s hobby is scrapbooking; she’s always at the craft store. Could she help pick up glue and glitter to keep your supply cabinets full? Sam would be a great teacher, but he travels a lot—could he be a trained substitute?

Use a volunteer profile like this to help you figure out some of the unique passions of the people at your church. And don’t hesitate to ask someone to serve—it’s an invitation to be part of God’s kingdom work! If you’re careful to match gifts and passions with ministry opportunities, then serving will be a joy for everyone involved!

For more tips on calling and leading volunteers, check out the 30 ideas offered in this article and the book A New Breed of Volunteers. And be sure to check out the safety standards and policies highlighted on the child safety page of the Safe Church Network.