Rallying Volunteers for Easter

As you gear up for your Easter services, your to-do list will probably include something like "Line up lots of volunteers!" Our Director of Volunteers, Wendy Bertel, and her team have the same task on their plates. Here's a quick look at the strategy we will be using at Fellowship Church:

• Offer an alternative perspective. We encourage our current volunteers to see serving on Easter as a local mission opportunity by committing to multiple services.  We have many people that come to church for the first time at Easter and we want them to feel welcomed here.  Extra volunteers on hand who can provide one-on-one attention is a huge benefit.
• Nix neediness. As we recruit, we keep the focus on the vision and the opportunity for our volunteers to be a part of what God will do at our church - we do not use the word “need”!
• Encourage them to step up. Most people are willing to help, but they need to be invited. We’re asking our volunteers to serve during at least two of our Easter services.
• Bump up the numbers. Since we’ll be welcoming a larger-than-usual crowd during Easter services, we are planning for extra volunteers, including enough to cover for those who aren’t able to serve at the last minute.
• Make it a pleasant experience. Our volunteer leaders will mingle with people as they serve and let them know how much they are appreciated. We'll also try to provide some special snacks as an extra treat. Easter is a reason to celebrate – we have fun with our wonderful volunteers!

Wendy will be taking a break from Easter preparation next week to teach the Volunteering Breakout Session at our C3 Regional Conference in Orlando on April 3. If you are in any way remotely involved with volunteers, you won't want to miss her in-depth insights!

Comments

[Daron Butler]

What words do you use instead of "need?"

[Lori Bailey]

Good question, Daron! We call them volunteer opportunities, and use language like, "Come be a part of our growing ministry!" People want to be a part of something that's successful and thriving, so we make sure we cast the vision of the ministry and the impact they can make there.

Lori Bailey