I have heard some lamenting over the past year when it comes to workers in the church. This cartoon I drew about volunteers and donuts in 2013 reminds me that volunteering has changed dramatically since the pandemic.
While some teenagers may still be as enthusiastic as the guy in the cartoon, it has been a challenge to recruit volunteers. This article from Christianity Today illustrates the challenges many churches are facing.
The Challenge of Recruiting
I have seen it first hand in the church my wife and I are involved in. As of late March 2022, cases have dropped dramatically in our area. We have seen people start returning to church. Yet, many of the previous volunteers don’t appear to be part of the return.
Part of the reason for that is the older average age of volunteers. Another explanation is once someone gets out of the habit, it can be a challenge to get them back to a classroom.
Let’s face it. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs during this challenge. One month, we thought things were improving. The next thing we knew, we were on high alert once again. It may continue to be a challenge for a while.
In the meantime, here are five tips for reconnecting with volunteers from the Diocese of London. Here are my paraphrased tips.
- Thank the ones that have worked all through the last two years
- Proactively contact the ones that were working before. Perhaps they just need a reminder their contribution still matters.
- Give those that have continued to work a break
- Recast the vision. After all, kids need loving support more than ever!
- Prayerfully, and carefully move forward
It also won’t hurt to bring in some donuts to show some appreciation. I’m pretty sure when it comes to volunteers and donuts, teens still love them!
I drew this cartoon for K! Magazine.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
