Working with volunteers is no easy task. Volunteers are there on their on own accord. You can’t force someone to volunteer, you can’t threaten them if they don’t volunteer and you can’t expect a volunteer to do the same amount of work as an employee.

However, to any non-profit organization and especially to a church, volunteers are the key to health, growth and ultimately achieving your goals or vision.

The secret I believe to good volunteers all centers on those that lead them. Sometimes this is paid staff, but most often it is one volunteer leading another volunteer.

I think one of the toughest tasks when it comes to volunteers is finding leaders to lead them. I constantly ask myself, could this volunteer be a potential leader? Does this person have what it takes to motivate, schedule, train, and recruit other volunteers.

There are so many factors involved in choosing a volunteer leader, but there are two I value above anything else. They are commitment and consistency. Before I look at ability, past records and would they be a fit I want to make sure they are committed people and they are consistent in their commitment.

It is no good having the best people if they are not committed people, they will flake out on you. It is also no good having people as leaders if they are committed but do not have to time to be consistent. When choosing leaders you need to know that they will be there when they are suppose to be and they won’t desert you when it gets tough.

Yes you may have to pass on people who are better qualified or have more ability, but in the long run you will have a team of leaders in whom you can trust and will help you complete the vision in front of you.