This is a guest post by Andrew VanDerLinden. Andrew is the Executive Pastor at Community Church in Eastern PA.

Andrew is an incredibly organized Family Pastor. Though he Is now an Executive Pastor, his heart (and his blog) is in Children’s and Family Ministry. He shares many of his awesome ideas on his blog, organizedkidmin.com

You can connect with Andrew on Twitter | Facebook

What’s in it for me?

I know it sounds selfish, but it really isn’t.

We all ask this in our subconscious all the time.  Time, energy and resources are all limited.  We would be foolish if we didn’t look for mutually beneficial opportunities to spend our time. If you want to attract and keep amazing volunteers you need to learn to communicate the benefits of serving with you and on your team.

How will you answer, “What’s in it for me?” for your volunteers?

When you’re recruiting new volunteers to join your team, if you can answer the question, “What’s in it for me?” in a compelling way you will jump leaps and bounds ahead of other departments in your church.

When I’m onboarding potential volunteers I always end the conversation with a list of benefits the new volunteer will receive for serving on my team.  Don’t get me wrong; I’m not trying to bribe them.  I just want them to know that serving with kids is rewarding, and there are some amazing benefits that they may not have considered.

Below is a list of my 8 favorite benefits for joining the kidmin team.

  1. You will have access to the Children’s Pastor.
    This is a selling point.  When you join my team you will have more access to me than someone not on my team.  I spend time with people who like what I like, and serve where I serve.  Think about it.  How much time do you spend with the parking lot crew?
  2. You will impact the lives of children.
    Let your new volunteers know the impact they will have.  Because of their service, they will be filling voids in kids lives.  They will have opportunities to help disciple children in their faith.
  3. You will develop your spiritual gifts through training and instruction.
    Help those who join your team identify and use their spiritual gifts.  This is easier than it sounds.  Here’s a great book and blog post to help.
  4. You will gain new relationships with children, their parents, and other leaders.
    Most people crave relationships.  We feel isolated and alone.  Let your new volunteers know that by joining your team, they will be more connected.
  5. You will grow spiritually through preparing and participating in regular ministry.
    What an amazing benefit.  As you prepare your lesson plans for the 1st graders you are going to grow in your faith.  Make it clear, while you are teaching kids, the kids are teaching you.  Jesus talked over and over about having faith like a child.  Capitalize on this benefit.
  6. You will be fulfilled and happier knowing you are using your spiritual gifts to impact young lives.
    The happiest people are those who are doing what God created them to do.  God has given each of your leaders special talents and gifts.  Help them use them to serve others. I promise they will be happier.
  7. You will be part of something larger than yourself.
    We live in a selfish, what’s in it for me culture.  Explain to your new leaders that joining your team will help them overcome selfishness and be apart of something larger than themselves.
  8. You will increase your family skills.
    The things your volunteers learn, to work with kids, are directly applicable to being a better parent or grandparent.  Let them know that the practice and training they receive transcends Sunday mornings.  The training and skills they develop will carry over into home life and help them be better parents, grandparents and spiritual mentors.

What Do You Think?

Have you taken time to define the benefits volunteers receive for serving on your team?  What would you add to this list?