Three Ideas to Build Relationships & Recruit Volunteers

The need for volunteers never goes away in a church, nor does the lament over a lack of volunteers. But you can turn lament into laughter. Some churches have a waiting list of volunteers. What makes the difference?

The difference is in the long game and the short game. The short game makes general appeals from the pulpit when things are desperate. Thinking is in terms of weeks or even days. The long game builds relationships and shapes volunteer culture and thinking in terms of years.

Here are three long-game ideas.

1. Create a “Nurture” Email Sequence

This idea is all about building trust, connection and buy-in to the ministry – long before you ask potential volunteers to commit to service – by sending them ministry-related content that educates them. And entertains them. 

This idea does require an email service provider that offers pre-scheduled, segmented emails.

Mailchimp is a free, easy-to-use email service that gets you going.

Start with everyone in your church. In your emails include an unsubscribe link clearly visible so people can opt out quickly if they want to.

Content-wise, you want to start with something engaging and interesting for the first email. It’s definitely NOT an immediate call to action.

Warm your readers up first through content about the ministry for which you are trying to recruit volunteers. So, “10 Things You Might Not Know About Kids Ministry” or “Myths and Facts About Youth in 2025”

The important thing is to start your nurture email series with valuable content, no strings attached. Then, you can add the call to action later.  

Again, this does take time upfront to write the content and set up the email automations. However, you are building an asset that is continually warming up your readers so you won’t be at a loss or need to make cold calls later when you need volunteer help.

And when it comes time for your next volunteer orientation training, or a new project or an event, you will have a mailing list of people who already know, like, and believe in what you are doing.  

2. Host a “Theme Meeting” Targeting a Specific Group  

This idea is all about creating something that has special appeal for a specific group you’re trying to engage as volunteers. This is important in a small, mid-size, and especially large congregation.

People enjoy gathering with others who are interested in similar things. So, why not create a social opportunity for potential volunteers to meet each other in a group setting?  There are all kinds of things you can do to add value to the volunteer effort. Especially food. Or snacks. Good food and snacks.

For instance, invite people to a serving event (preparing material for a Day Camp, or Easter Outreach or Christmas event, etc). Combine their serving with social time to make it even more fun. Make sure that all of your present volunteers are in attendance to help with connections.

The service aspect these days could be combined with an experience or an update of what’s happening in your department’s ministry.

Try inviting a specific demographic to a serving event. Think about a “Singles Monday Night” or a “Seniors Saturday” or a “Young Professionals Night.” Each group comes to serve but also to network.

All of these are win-win for potential volunteers because they get to serve and contribute their time and talent, but also work with peers who are equally interested in giving back.

And…when your volunteers become friends, they’re more likely to serve.

3. Host a Recruitment Breakfast or Luncheon  

A next step to your email group is to host a relationship-building breakfast or after-church luncheon where you talk about the ministry, the difference it makes, and what volunteer life in this ministry looks like.

Bring people together, you talk about what you’re doing, and then you make an ask.  

It’s not just about a general invitation and trying to get people to a breakfast or luncheon. This is a very targeted initiative for people already connected informally to the ministry.  

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