If you asked 100 youth leaders what they struggled with the most. One of the top answers is always how to find youth volunteers. Youth leaders also know how key it is to have a group of awesome volunteers.
Volunteers are not just small group leaders or drivers. Your volunteers are adults who are intentional about loving God and loving students. And according to a recent article by Care Niewhof on the Parent Cue blog, students need a group of adults who are there for them.
“Every student needs a circle of 5 adults other than their parents who are helping to guide their life, who they can talk to about anything.”
He says“I dream of a culture in which every child has five adults, other than their parents, they can talk to about the important stuff. Like school. And girls. And parents. And the future. And God. And faith. And their problems.”
Carey Nieuwhof in Parent Cue
So how do you find those volunteers who can intentionally pour into the lives of your students?
First – Ask Your Students
Talk to your students and ask them who they connect with, who would be a good small group leader? Or which adults they really like to be around? What’s great about this is that you can then go to those adults and say “We’re looking for a small group leader for our 6th grade girls and they all suggested that I talk to you.”Second – Talk to Parents with Young Kids
Find some of your couples who have younger kids. When I find some who I think would be awesome I ask them. “Would you come help me build the youth group your children will be a part of one day?” They are not only helping you now, but they are investing in the future for their students as well.Third – Ask Youth Parents
I know what you are going to say. Some kids don’t like their parents being around however I have found this isn’t totally true. I would not put a parent in charge of a small group their student was in. However I have had some awesome parents be volunteers and small group leaders. Often if they have a Jr High youth I might put the parent in with Sr High or vice versa.Fourth – Senior Adults –
Students need at least 5 other adults in their lives. Often an older adult makes a great small group or youth volunteer. These adults may be a grandparent figure to kids who don’t have grandparents. They might be the perfect listening ear to things parents “just don’t understand”. They can offer counsel to youth and parents alike, because they have been there, through all of those life stages. I have two awesome volunteers, who not only have great grandchildren of their own but come each week to share their wisdom and presence with our youth.Fifth – Young Adult and College
You may have young adults who have graduated but are still in town going to school. Your church might even have a college or young adult ministry. Maybe you have a community college or university near your town. Check in with their religious gatherings like the Wesley Foundation and see if there are students who could come alongside and be small group volunteers.As a youth leader myself I know that finding good volunteers is not always easy, however I hope this has given you some ideas on where to look. If you have some other suggestions on how to find volunteers then I’d love for you too share them here in the comments.
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