People volunteer at churches for as many reasons as there are individual personalities. Hopefully most of the people will be selfless and have a heart that genuinely wants to serve. Others may feel a sense of obligation because they have a child or youth involved in that area of ministry. And with churches in desperate need of volunteers, some may even feel pressured into serving.

Some volunteers want to feel like a part of the community of believers. Newcomers to a city or town often want to meet people and make friends. A good way to do so is to volunteer in their new church. Those who live alone might be fighting a sense of loneliness or miss the days when they had children at home and in the children’s ministry. Volunteering is a good way to accomplish both goals.

Volunteer coordinators or ministry directors can help volunteers feel valued and like they are a part of the team by introducing them to staff or fellow volunteers who are like-minded. A volunteer looking for connection that is subsequently ignored and asked to serve alone will not stick around for long!

Retired professionals often volunteer to pass wisdom on to the next generation. Valuing and treating them with honor will ensure that they flourish in whatever capacity they serve.

Discovering your volunteers’ motivations will help you know them better, manage them better, and get more out of them! And motivating your volunteers can help you better meet their expectations, making their experience better—and their willingness to continue more likely.

For more information on screening your volunteers visit Protect My Ministry