5 Effective Strategies for Recruiting Volunteers in Disability Ministry

7 Jun

Recruiting and equipping volunteers in disability ministry is essential to the ministry’s health and growth. And I’ve heard from so many ministry leaders that they struggle with having enough volunteers- does that sound familiar? Recruitment is key!

As you recruit volunteers, here are 5 effective strategies for recruiting volunteers for your disability ministry:

Pray

It's easy to hop right in and try to fill the gaps. But pause and pray. Ask the Lord to stir within the hearts of potential volunteers. Ask Him for guidance and wisdom in this process.

2. Don't be Afraid of the Ask

Do you know someone who would be a great fit for this ministry? Tell them! Share what you see in them that would make them a great volunteer. Don't be afraid to ask them to consider serving- or even to first just consider observing (with a background check). People are far more likely to volunteer if they are personally asked than with a blanket call to serve to the congregation. When people are personally asked, they feel valued, seen, and like an important part of the church body (because they are!).

3. Build General Awareness in the church body

Unless someone is personally impacted by disability, they can often be unaware of the difficulties that families face when coming to church. But I believe many would be moved to action and want to be a part of the solution if they were aware. So, how can you build awareness to the needs?

Share videos from families about the impact the disability ministry has made for them.
Communicate clearly about the need.
Share statistics of how many people your church can reach in the disability community in your area.

Answer questions like:

What about church is hard if a family member has a disability?
What difference does this ministry make?

4. Share that they can be a part of making a difference

People want to make a difference. They want to feel a part of a bigger mission.

Let people know that they can be a part of making this type of difference for individuals and families! Invite them to be a part of impacting lives, building friendships, and sharing the Gospel!
Help them see themselves as part of the solution.
Share stories from other volunteers and what serving has meant to them.

5. Reassure that they don't have to know it all

There is a lot of fear and anxiety for some people when they think about serving in disability ministry. They may not know what to do, say, or what the “right” way is to teach.

Reassure them that they don't have to know- they just need a willing heart and see how the Lord will work!
Ask, “Can you be a friend?” That’s where disability ministry starts!
Share videos of students and the ministry spaces. Take away the fear of the unknown by giving glimpses into what it would be like to serve. Give people the ability to envision themselves there!

Want to see a GREAT example of a volunteer recruitment video that showcases these principles? This video is from Limitless Disability Ministry at Northpointe in CA, one of Awe & Wonder's curriculum subscribers. It had me in tears as I watched! I loved hearing from the mom, the student, and the buddy all in one video. Check it out on their Facebook page ⤵️