A recruitment drive gives your church a focused opportunity to celebrate those already serving, invite new people to participate and help volunteers try a different role.

It can work in a small church or a larger congregation. Adapt the scale to your church and give people a clear next step when they express interest.

Key Takeaways

• Plan the campaign over several weekends so more people can participate.
• Combine preaching, serving stories and small-group conversations.
• Give people a simple way to express interest and talk with a leader.
• Offer a first serve and follow it with a conversation about fit.
• Follow up promptly and provide induction and training.

With churches always looking to replenish teams and boost volunteer numbers, you may want to take just a few elements of this full campaign and run a mini-campaign to get more volunteers in church.

Once people express interest, help them take their next step with my church volunteer onboarding process.

A recruitment drive will serve as a time of:

• celebrating the work of your volunteers
• inspiring your current workers
• allowing volunteers to try something new

Here are 11 key elements of a recruitment drive.

1. Plan over several weekends

The start of the year can be a useful time for a recruitment drive, but you can run it at another time that suits your church.

Don’t restrict it to one weekend, as you will miss people who are away. I recommend allowing four weekends, with the final weekend giving you time to connect with people you haven’t reached.

As people hear the preaching and the stories they will identify their gifts with those who are serving. This will inspire them to use their unique gifts and personality in serving Christ and His cause.

2. Preach on serving

Powerful preaching changes lives.

During your weekend services, build your message around the value of serving and what it means to be volunteers in church.

Preach Joshua 24 which is one of the super chapters in the Scriptures on serving.

Help people consider how their personality and gifts can shape where they serve.

Reveal the servant hearts of Moses, David, Paul and of course, Jesus as you inspire your church to lay down their lives in serving the cause of Christ.

3. Highlight unsung heroes

In your services focus on behind-the-scenes people whose work can tend to go unnoticed.

Our church loves it when we highlight the work of quiet achievers who go about their service with a humble and gentle spirit.

I’ll never forget the moments in our church when we honoured the unsung heroes. It was inspiring. Continue that appreciation through volunteer meetings that celebrate and equip your teams.

4. Get volunteers to share their serving stories

Interview some exemplary volunteers. I’ve learned the hard way to keep hold of the microphone when I’m leading the interview—it can be difficult to get it back once someone gets on a roll. If possible, use multimedia to show a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what people do when volunteering.

Use a live video link or a short recorded interview to show volunteers working in different parts of your facility.

Or use a YouTube video to show different ways people volunteer in your church. If you’re a small church don’t worry about making the video slick, just show people what they wouldn’t normally see. However, keep these clips ultra short.

5. Ask everyone to fill out a Volunteers in Church form

In each service ask everyone to fill out your Volunteering Opportunity form.

At the end of the service ask everyone to fill out this simple form that offers them a variety of service options.

Prepare a simple form listing the opportunities people can explore and how your team will contact them.

Google Forms provide an excellent online option.

6. Offer a First Serve opportunity

A First Serve is an excellent way to help your members who lack confidence in their ability, who are uncertain where they want to serve or who want to volunteer in another department. It is a one-off, low-risk opportunity to try something such as youth ministry or media productions. It’s a tried and true method of taste and see.

Always offer a First Serve as a part of your volunteer recruitment drive.

WARNING: First Serve only works when you have a diligent evaluation system in place that ensures the First Server is followed up with and has a chance to debrief on their First Serve.

If it worked, then offer them ongoing involvement.

If the First Serve didn’t work out, offer them another First Serve in a different department.

Keep trying until you find the right fit.

7. Set up an information booth

Set up an information booth in your foyer or online with details of various opportunities.

If this option appears to be over the top for your size church then at the least provide a realistic opportunity for people to talk to people immediately after the service about volunteering.

If you are presenting online then provide a simple link for people to fill out a Google Form.

8. Train volunteers to recruit their friends

A tap on the shoulder from a friend will complement your broader pulpit approach and often be more effective.

Train your volunteers who are already involved in serving to invite their friends to join their team.

Joining a team is a lot less scary when we know we have friends around us who will help us integrate into the team.

9. Get your small groups to discuss volunteering

Make sure your small groups are also discussing serving and volunteering during this month of recruitment.

10. Conduct an induction session for new volunteers

The last step in recruitment is a one-hour induction session. This session should cover an overview of your church’s vision and primary convictions about volunteering.

If you have difficulty getting people to attend an induction session, run it during a Sunday service in a separate room at the church.

Alternatively, take it online and run it in a Zoom meeting.

Both the Sunday and Zoom options make it accessible to people and solve multiple obstacles such as childminding and finding a free night.

Once induction is completed, training can commence.

It’s important to develop a comprehensive volunteer onboarding process. This provides a clear pathway for people as they move into serving in your church.

11. Follow up with people

Ensure everyone who completes a Volunteers in Church form is contacted and helped with their next step.

I recommend acknowledging their interest within 24–48 hours, then speaking with them during the week. Don’t wait until the campaign finishes to begin those conversations.

As people grow in serving, consider how you will develop emerging leaders who can take responsibility for others.

Frequently asked questions about recruiting church volunteers

Can a small church run a recruitment drive?

Yes. I would scale the campaign to the church. You may only need a clear invitation, a few serving stories and someone available for conversations after the service.

How long should the campaign run?

I recommend spreading it over several weekends rather than relying on one service. Four weekends gives you room to repeat the invitation and connect with people who have been away.

What if someone is unsure where to serve?

Offer a first serve: an opportunity to try a role before agreeing to ongoing involvement. Follow up afterwards to hear what worked and whether another role would suit them better.

How soon should we contact people who respond?

I recommend acknowledging their interest within 24–48 hours and arranging a conversation during the week. Explain the next step while their decision is still fresh.

What happens after the recruitment drive?

Continue the conversations, provide induction and begin role-specific training. My volunteer onboarding guide explains the wider pathway.