Inspiring People to Volunteer – 6 Ingredients for a Successful Ask

POINT OF THE POST...

I lead a church, which means I lead a volunteer organization, too. We can't make ministry happen without our volunteer teams. So asking people to move to volunteer is a regular part of my job. Over the past 15 years, I've learned a lot about how to make that ask. And how to not make that ask. In this NEW POST, I give you my six simple ingredients for making a volunteer ask. I also included some EXAMPLE SCRIPTS to help. I can't promise you that everyone will take a step toward volunteering. I can promise that more people will consider it, and perhaps even do it.

As a church leader, I consistently push people to engage (or re-engage) in the life and mission of our local church.

Joining a volunteer team is a perfect example. 

It’s not a selfish request. I believe outside of our families, nothing is worth giving our time, talent, and resources to more than the local church. When we engage at a church, God changes us while changing others through us.

People engaging in the local church matters. As church leaders, we should do everything we can to inspire people to take a step towards contributing.

Unfortunately, no matter how much we know it matters, people don’t easily or freely offer their time and talent (and treasure, but that’s for another post). And they’ve got plenty of reasons:

  • I’m too busy with …
  • I don’t know enough about…
  • Isn’t that the job of the church staff…
  • It makes me uncomfortable…
  • I won’t make any difference…


I could go on and on. I bet you’ve heard it all, too.

I wish overcoming the obstacles of volunteer engagement was easy. There is no silver bullet to force people into serving, joining a small group, giving, or sharing their faith. However, there are ways to increase the potential for people to take a step. 

How we ask people to volunteer determines their openness to consider volunteering. Like most things in life, when it comes to asking, approach is everything.

I’m not claiming to be an expert. I can say with some confidence that we’ve experienced a lot of success in moving people from consuming to contributing at Woodstock City Church. You can apply our method to just about any version of church engagement — volunteering, giving, joining a small group, inviting friends, or attending an event. If you need to move people to take a volunteering next step, give this approach a try:

1. Connect the crowd to the topic

As we begin the ask, we must connect the crowd to the ministry, but not yet to the step. We’ll introduce the volunteer step later. Initially, we need to get people thinking about others. I love to find something to celebrate to begin this conversation. When people celebrate, it moves them emotionally in the direction of joy and others-first thinking. That’s a great place from which to build a foundation for an ask. One more thing: it never hurts to bring in a little humor. We are going to make an ask that requires some emotion, so introducing positive emotion up front is helpful.

2. Create curiosity and inspire consideration

This can be a fact, story, or mystery. But keep it short and to the point. We can’t ramble or chase a tangent. Getting people to lean in through curiosity or contemplation is the point. We previously introduced the topic, and now we create interest around the ministry and those who experience the ministry. But don’t make the ask yet. We’re building up to it, though.

3. Explain the stakes

Why does what you’re about to ask matter? People need to understand what is happening now and what could happen if they take a step. More importantly, they need to know what won’t happen if they remain on the sidelines. Fear and regret is a better motivator than success. Note: This is the first time we mention the opportunity. We do so as we transition to making the ask.

4. Make a bold ask

This is where we fail the most. We lead people to the water, and then we don’t ask them to drink. The ask needs to be bold and specific. What exactly are you asking them to do? If you believe taking the step matters for them and others, make a clear ask as if you believe it. This may feel too fundamental, but tell people what you want them to do. Be clear. And be bold.

5. Provide a clear step

Every ask must have an easy step to take — the sooner, the better. The best ask is not the full ask but the first step in the full ask. If the goal is for people to join a volunteer team, the first step is to sign up to observe or attend an orientation. Make the ask bold and specific but accessible and achievable. The ask needs to feel possible. We can’t forget that, for many, volunteering feels like a leap, not a step. Perhaps they won’t leap, but they can take an incremental step. 

6. Close with a bit of assurance, additional inspiration when necessary, and thank them for taking the step

To close the ask, we need to build their confidence while reminding them of the consequences. And it never hurts to show some advance gratitude for their consideration.

That seems like a lot. In reality, it’s not. Let me give you a few examples. I wrote these as I’d say them, to ignore any grammar and such. And I realize it isn’t easy in written form, but try to imagine the tone moving throughout the ask. 

STUDENT MINISTRY VOLUNTEER EXAMPLE SCRIPT

(1) I apologize in advance for making you consider one of the most awkward seasons in your life, but do you remember being in middle school? Middle school can be challenging. You were curious yet also cautious. You wanted to fit in, but you didn’t want to be noticed. There is so much at stake during this season of life. (2) And do you know what might be the most important thing about middle school? It’s where kids are beginning to define their own faith. Children often live out of their parent’s faith, but in middle school, students begin to question faith. (3) They begin to seek a faith of their own. Or, without help, they may not find a faith of their own. That’s a huge problem because the faith of others doesn’t last forever. It tends to crumble under difficult circumstances and college English professors. (4) Helping students develop a faith of their own is what our student ministry volunteers do each week. And I want you to be one of them. I know you don’t feel qualified, but here’s the great news — I’m not asking you to go to seminary; I’m asking you to be present. To be a part of their life. To share your experiences. And to help them engage in their faith. I’m asking you to be there. That’s it. (5) To learn more, all you need to do is fill out this card, and we’ll reach out to you tomorrow and start a conversation. It’s that simple. (6) Here’s my promise. You are going to make a difference. We know that is true because we all know that our middle school life would have been so much better had we had a person like you in our life, supporting us and being present for us. So on behalf of the students you’re about to meet, thank you.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VOLUNTEER EXAMPLE SCRIPT — PANDEMIC EDITION

(1) [Walk out with a few elementary-age kids] Do you remember being this old? I know, that was a LONG time ago. But think back to being a kid. (2) What were your worries? What was challenging? And here’s the most important question: What would have made it better? (3) Here at Woodstock City Church, we have hundreds of kids just like this walking into our church every Sunday. But unlike you, they are growing up in the middle of the most significant pivotal experience they will ever face. Living through a pandemic is hard. Being a kid in a pandemic? Well, that’s not any easier. I’m not sure if you realize it, but we have an opportunity to help ensure kids just like this pivot toward God, not away. We have an opportunity to help them create a better story because of this experience. (4) And when I say “we,” I mean our volunteers. They are the people ensuring this pandemic is used for good in the lives of our kids. And you can be one of those people. I want you to be one of those people. These kids need you to be one of those people. So today, I am asking you to join a volunteer team. (5) All you need to do is take the first step — sign up today to attend a volunteer orientation. At the orientation, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about volunteering at our church. And we’ll give you a chance to take the next step. (6) Listen, I know it’s not easy to commit time to something, but if I’m honest, outside of my own family, I can’t think of anything more important than this. These kid’s perspectives on this pivotal moment will be shaped by the people around them — people just like you. Thanks in advance for being a person God will use to change the lives of kids in our community.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY VOLUNTEER EXAMPLE SCRIPT

(1) I grew up going to church — reluctantly. As a kid, church wasn’t the highlight of my week. (2) Perhaps you grew up going to church, too. And maybe, like me, church was just okay at best. That’s why about 80% of kids who grow up in church leave the church when they leave home. The minute they could get out, they got out. (3) We can’t let that happen here. Each week in our church, we have hundreds of children and students showing up. And we want to ensure their experience draws them toward God and his church. We have a chance to plant an anchor of faith so deep in the hearts of kids and students that when they drift, and they inevitably will, they won’t go too far. And they’ll always want to come back. Of course, the other option is to let them see the church, and then God, as irrelevant and boring. And most will walk away when they leave home. (4) You might not realize it, but you are the perfect person to solve this problem. How? By choosing to be present in their life by joining one of our volunteer teams. I want you to take the first step today by signing up to observe. (5) All you need to do is text the word “WCServe” to 797979. (6) It isn’t easy being a kid or student in our world today. The great news is that you can make it better. Significantly better. On behalf of the kids whose life you’re about to change, thanks in advance. I can’t wait to see you in one of our awesome volunteer t-shirts!

These scripts aren’t perfect, but they are better than a lack of curiosity, inspiration, and a direct ask. I do know that. 

One more thing: Don’t forget your supporting ingredients, like cards for people to fill out to take the step, text-in options, QR codes, pictures or b-roll video of the ministry, etc.

Conclusion

Let me conclude with this: The fatal mistake I see most often when making an ask is not making a clear ask. If you follow this method, I can’t promise you that everyone will take a step. I can promise that more people will consider it, and perhaps even do it.

How can I help?

Helping ministry and marketplace leaders through change, transition, and transformation is why I created Transformation Solutions. Go right now to mytransformationsolutions.com and sign up for a free, 30-minute conversation to decide if working together works for you.

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