Volunteer basics

Suggestions for the recruitment and treatment of volunteers is a cottage industry. With volunteers we are dealing with complex humans with unstated if not unknown values, needs and agendas. Supporting and working with volunteers is a never ending issue in youth ministry that requires thought and time. A few basics:

• Volunteers need to feel needed. It is not sufficient for them to be placeholders, a requisite male or female, back-up or group bouncer. They need to be relied upon regularly.
  
• They usually have a limited amount of time and energy and may not be able to do a lot of preparation.
  
• Volunteers need to be able to spend real time with the youth. You may have to take care of the background, administrative stuff.
  
• Volunteers need a sense of community. Many sign up to teach or work with a team with the hope that they will make friends with the other adults.
  
• If you work with a lot of adults, you may find that your most effective ministry to the youth is spending time with the adults and keeping them happy.